Dust collecting unit for use in cleaner

ABSTRACT

This dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner includes an inlet port through which air and dust is taken in, a dust catch room into which the air and dust taken in through the inlet port is led, an air flow path for separating a part of air taken in through the inlet port and ensuring air flow, an air outlet port through which the air having passed through the dust catch room and the air flow path is discharged, and a filter provided on the upstream side of the air outlet port for preventing dust from flowing to the air outlet port from the dust catch room and the air flow path.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/115,130, filedApr. 27, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dust collecting unit for catchingdust contained in sucked air.

2. Description of Related Art

Upright type (longitudinal type) cleaners are known each of whichincludes a suction section provided with a plurality of wheels adaptedto roll on the floor and a long-shaped main body pivotally attached tothe suction section at one end thereof, and which can be used in aposition somewhat inclined rearward with respect to the verticaldirection by a user with holding a handle provided at the other end ofthe main body (for example, Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No.2000-342492 published by Japan Patent Office on Dec. 12, 2000). Whenunused, an upright type cleaner can be maintained in a position in whichthe main body is upright in the vertical direction with respect to thesuction section.

A dust collecting unit of such a kind of cleaner includes asubstantially cylindrical dust collecting case for catching dustcontained in the air sucked through the suction section. The dustcollecting case is provided with an inlet port through which air istaken into the dust collecting case in the direction of the tangentialline, and the air taken into the dust collecting case swirls at a highspeed in the dust collecting case. Then, dust is separated from the airswirling at a high speed in the dust collecting case by a filter.

Such a cleaner has an advantage that no paper package is used forstoring dust, and therefore it is economical.

However, the abovementioned conventional art has a problem that the airsucked through the inlet port is caused to swirl in the dust collectingcase, and therefore air flow in the dust collecting case becomescomplicated thus to reduce the suction efficiency of the cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a dust collecting unitfor use in a cleaner which can restrain lowering of the dust collectingefficiency (suction power) thereof caused by storing of dust.

For the purpose of achieving the abovementioned object, a dustcollecting unit according to the present invention includes a dust catchroom for catching dust contained in the sucked air and an air flow pathfor separating a part of the air led to the dust catch room side.Therefore, even if a large amount of dust is stored in the dust catchroom and thus the resistance becomes large when the air passes throughthe dust catch room, air flow can be ensured by the air flow path. As aresult, the whole of the air flow passing through the dust collectingunit is maintained and the cleaning efficiency (power) is not loweredeven if dust is stored.

The abovementioned and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the followingdescription of embodiments given with reference to the appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an outline view showing the structure of a cleaner accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention and this view is a leftside view.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the cleaner of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a dust collecting unit according to thefirst embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectioned along avertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seen from the left side.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thefirst embodiment seen along the arrow A-A shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a branched pipe of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thefirst modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectionedalong a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seen from theleft side.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit according to the firstmodified embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thefirst modified embodiment seen along the arrow B-B shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thefirst modified embodiment seen along the arrow C-C shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to asecond modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectionedalong a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seen from theleft side.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit according to a secondmodified embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thesecond modified embodiment seen along the arrow D-D shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to athird modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectionedalong a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seen from theleft side.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit according to thethird modified embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thethird modified embodiment seen along the arrow E-E shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thethird modified embodiment seen along the arrow F-F shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to afourth modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectionedalong a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seen from theleft side.

FIG. 19 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit according to thefourth modified embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thefourth modified embodiment seen along the arrow G-G shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of a filter member according to the fourthmodified embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an outline view showing the structure of the cleaneraccording to a second embodiment of the present invention and this viewis a left side view.

FIG. 23 is a rear view of the cleaner according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thesecond embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectioned along avertical plane in the lateral direction is seen from the rear side.

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit according to thesecond embodiment in which the dust collecting unit sectioned along avertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seen from the left side.

FIG. 26 is an exploded sectional view of the dust collecting unitaccording to the second embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a sectional view showing the structure of a cleaner accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a sectional view of the cleaner of FIG. 27 seen along thesection line H-H.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view of the dust collecting case shown in FIG.27.

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the duct collecting case shown in FIG.27, showing dust is accumulated in a dust collecting chamber.

FIG. 31 is a sectional view of the duct collecting case shown in FIG.27, showing the dust is discharged from the dust collecting chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are outline views showing the structure of a cleaneraccording to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is aleft side view and FIG. 2 is a rear view. In each of these views, a partof the cleaner 1 is shown in a sectional view for simplification of theinner arrangement of the cleaner 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaner 1 includes a suction section 3provided with a plurality of wheels 2 which roll on the floor, and along-shaped main body 4 pivotally attached, at one end (the lower end),to the suction section 3. This cleaner is an upright type (longitudinaltype) cleaner which is used in a position somewhat inclined rearwardwith respect to the vertical direction by a user with holding a handle 5provided at the other end (upper end) of the main body 4. When unused,this cleaner 1 can be maintained in a position in which the main body 4is upright in the vertical direction with respect to the suction section3 (position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).

A suction port 6 is provided on the front side of the bottom surface ofthe suction section 3. On the rear side of the inside of the suctionsection 3, provided is an electric blower 7 including a motor and a fanadapted to be rotated by the motor.

When cleaning with this cleaner 1, an electric power switch 8 providedon the main body 4 (for example, at the upper end of a belowmentionedlower member 4A) is turned on to start the driving of the electricblower 7, and thereby dust on the floor opposed to the suction port 6 issucked through the suction port 6 into the suction section 3. On thefront side of the inside of the suction section 3, provided is a rotarybrush 9 rotatable around a rotation shaft 9A elongated in the lateraldirection. The outer circumferential surface of this rotary brush 9faces the suction port 6. When the electric blower 7 is driven, therotary brush 9 is rotated by the pressure of the air sucked through thesuction port 6 into the suction section 3 thereby to assist dust to flowthrough the suction port 6 into the suction section 3 and at the sametime to prevent extraneous substances from flowing through the suctionport 6 into the suction section 3. However, the rotary brush 9 may bedriven to rotate by a motor.

A dust collecting unit 10 for catching dust contained in the air suckedthrough the suction section 3 is detachably attached to the main body 4.The main body 4 is provided with a lower member 4A which is disposedabove the suction section 3 and carries the dust collecting unit 10, andan upper member 4B which has one end (the lower end) inserted into theupper portion of the lower member 4A and is curved so as to be inclinedrearward as it extends upwardly, so that the whole main body 4 has ashape elongated in the vertical direction. Two end portions of an archedhandle 5 are connected to the upper portion of the front surface of theupper member 4B. When a user gripping this handle 5 applies a force inthe direction of the elongation of the main body 4, a propelling forceis given to the main body 4 and the suction section 3 connected to themain body 4, so that the cleaner 1 can move with the wheels 2 beingrotated. Two code winding parts 11 are projected from the upper andlower end portions respectively of the rear surface of the upper member4B. When the cleaner 1 is unused or a power code of the cleaner 1 isexcessively long, the code can be wound round the two code winding parts11 with the code stretched therebetween.

The dust collecting unit 10 is provided with an inlet port 12. Connectedto the inlet port 12 of the dust collecting unit 10 is one end of a hose13 the other end of which is connected to the suction section 3.Thereby, the air and dust sucked into the suction section 3 istransferred through the hose 13 toward the dust collecting unit 10 andtaken through the inlet port 12 into the dust collecting unit 10. In theprocess that the air containing dust taken into the dust collecting unit10 passes the dust collecting unit 10, dust contained in the air iscaught, and the air is discharged downward through an air outlet port 14provided in the bottom surface of the dust collecting unit 10. Providedinside the lower member 4A of the main body 4 is a guide path 15 whichleads the air discharged from the air outlet port 14 toward the frontside. The air led through the guide path 15 toward the front side isdischarged through an air outlet filter 16 to the outside of the cleaner1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 10 sectionedalong a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction and seen from theleft side. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit 10 in whicha part of the dust collecting unit 10 is shown in a sectional view forsimplification of the inner arrangement thereof. FIG. 5 is a sectionalview of the dust collecting unit 10 seen along the arrow A-A shown inFIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the dust collecting unit 10 includes asubstantially cylindrical dust collecting case 20 which defines theoutline of the dust collecting unit 10. On the upper end portion of thedust collecting case 20, provided is a gripping part 21 which is grippedwhen the dust collecting case 20 is attached to or detached from thecleaner 1. The inside of the dust collecting case 20 is divided into anupper chamber 22 defined in the upper end portion thereof and a lowerchamber 23 defined from the middle portion to the lower end portionthereof. The inlet port 12 is provided in the upper end portion of thelower chamber 23, and the air taken through the inlet port 12 is led inthe direction of a tangential line of the outer circumferential surfaceof the dust collecting case 20 to be introduced into the lower chamber23.

In the upper portion of the lower chamber 23, provided is a horizontallyelongated pipe-shaped guide member 24 one end of which is connected tothe inlet port 12. More specifically, the guide member 24 has asubstantially L-shaped form including a laterally elongated upstreamside part 24A one end of which is connected to the inlet port 12 and adownstream side part 24B elongated rearward from the other end of theupstream side part 24A. The inside (inner angle side) of a portionadjacent to the connecting portion of the upstream side part 24A and thedownstream side part 24B is positioned on the central axis of the dustcollecting case 20. In the guide member 24, provided is a cylindricalfilter 25 substantially in the form of a cylinder vertically elongatedalong the central axis of the dust collecting case 20. In other words,the guide member 24 is extended along the outer circumferential surfaceof the cylindrical filter 25, and the air taken in through the inletport 12 flows along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindricalfilter 25 to be led to the distal end of the guide member 24. Thecylindrical filter 25 is provided in its outer circumferential surfacewith a plurality of air holes 26, and each of the air holes 26 iscovered with a mesh filter 27. The air hole 26 is opened in a directionsubstantially in parallel with the air stream in the guide member 24.

The air taken in through the inlet port 12 passes through the guidemember 24 to be led to the distal end of the downstream side part 24B asshown with white arrows in FIGS. 3 and 5, and a part of the air flowsinto the air holes through the mesh filters 27 to be led into thecylindrical filter 25 as shown with black arrows in FIGS. 3 and 5. Onthe other hand, dust contained in the air taken in through the inletport 12, since being heavier than the air, passes the outer side (outerangle side) of the guide member 24 to be led to the distal end of thedownstream side part 24B by an inertia force. The cylindrical filter 25is disposed in a position away from the flowing path of the dust in theguide member 25, and dust contained in the air taken in through theinlet port 12 is kept away from the cylindrical filter 25 and dischargedfrom the distal end of the guide member 24 into the lower chamber 23.Thereby, the cylindrical filter 25 can be prevented from hindering thedust flow in the guide member 24.

In the dust collecting case 20, a branched pipe 28 is so disposed as toextend downward along the central axis of the dust collecting case 20with one end (the upper end) of the branched pipe 28 being connected tothe cylindrical filter 25. The air flowing from the air holes 26 throughthe mesh filer 27 into the cylindrical filter 25 is led downward throughthe branched pipe 28. A space outside the branched pipe 28 in the lowerchamber 23 defines a dust catch room 29 for catching and storing dustdischarged from the distal end of the guide member 24. In other words, afilter member 30 is provided at the bottom of the dust collecting case20 (the lower chamber 23) so that when the air discharged from the guidemember 24 falls down and passes the filter member 30, dust contained inthe air is caught by the filter member 30 to be stored in the dust catchroom 29.

The bottom surface of the dust collecting case 20 is opened and theopening defines the air outlet port 14 for discharging the air fromwhich dust has been caught A filter member 30 is detachably attached tothe lower end portion of the dust collecting case 20 so that it coversthe air outlet opening 14. The filter member 30 includes a mesh filter31 having a substantially circular shape in plan view and facing thedust catch room 29, and a paper filter 32 having a substantiallycircular shape in plan view and disposed below the mesh filter 31 with apredetermined space therebetween. The paper filter 32 is held by a lowerholding member 30A having a shape corresponding to the air outlet port14, while the mesh filter 31 is held by an upper holding member 30Bpivotally attached to the rear end portion of the upper surface of thelower holding member 30A via a hinge 33. In the central portion of theupper holding member 30B, an upward protruded cylindrical part 34 isprovided so as to enclose the outer circumference of the paper filer 32held by the lower holding member 30A, and the mesh filter 31 is attachedso as to cover the upper end opening of the cylindrical part 34.

In the lower end portion of the branched pipe 28, a substantiallycircular flange part 35 is provided so as to be stretched in thediametrical direction and opposed to the upper end opening of thecylindrical part 34 provided on the upper holding member 30B of thefilter member 30. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the branched pipe 28. Asshown in FIG. 6, the flange part 35 stretched in the diametricaldirection from the lower end portion of the branched pipe 28 includes anannular part 36 having a shape corresponding to the upper end face ofthe cylindrical part 34 of the filter member 30, and a plurality of(e.g. four) connecting parts 37 connecting the inner circumferentialsurface of the annular part 36 and the outer circumferential surface ofthe branched pipe 28.

The connecting parts 37 are respectively extended in the diametricaldirection from the outer circumferential surface of the lower endportion of the branched pipe 28 respectively with a space of apredetermined angle (e.g. 90 degrees) therebetween. A plurality of (e.g.four) openings defined by the inner circumferential surface of theannular part 36 and the connecting parts 37 constitute air ports 38 forpassing the air flowing into the dust catch room 29 toward the filtermember 30. In other words, as shown with white arrows in FIG. 3, the airflowing from the guide member 24 into the dust catch room 29 passes theair ports 38 to be led to the filter member 30, and passes the meshfilter 31 and the paper filter 32 thus to be discharged through the airoutlet port 14. Rather large dust (larger dust) of the dust contained inthe air delivered from the dust catch room 29 toward the air outlet port14 is caught by the mesh filter 31 to be stored in the dust catch room29, while rather small dust (minute dust) having passed the mesh filter31 is caught by the paper filter 32. On the other hand, the air ledthrough the branched pipe 28 downward is brought toward the centralportion of the filter member 30 from the lower end potion of thebranched pipe 28, and passes the mash filter 31 and the paper filter 32thus to be discharged through the air outlet port 14.

A brush member 39 (e.g. bristles) is attached to the lower surface ofeach connecting part 37 of the flange part 35. The distal end portionsof these brush members 39 are in contact with the upper surface of themesh filter 31. In this embodiment, the cylindrical filter 25 and thebranched pipe 28 can be integrally rotated, and with this rotation, thedistal end portions of the brush members 39 slidably contact the meshfilter 31. More specifically, the upper end portion of the cylindricalfilter 25 penetrates a division wall 40 dividing the upper chamber 22and the lower chamber 23 thus to face the upper chamber 22, and with thelower surface of the flange part 41 provided on the outercircumferential surface thereof contacting the upper surface of thedivision wall 40, the cylindrical filter 25 and the branched pipe 28connected to the cylindrical filter 25 are rotatably held.

A plurality of teeth are provided on the outer peripheral edge of theupper surface of the flange part 41 provided on the upper end portion ofthe cylindrical filter 25. A gear 42 engageable with the teeth isprovided in the upper chamber 22 of the dust collecting case 20. A shaftof the gear 42 is extended in the longitudinal direction and isconnected to a dial 43 stretched outward from the rear end of thecircumferential surface of the dust collecting case 20. When the dial 43is rotated, the flange part 41 is rotated via the gear 42, and thecylindrical filer 25 and the branched pipe 28 are rotated. Thereby, theflange part 35 provided on the lower portion of the branched pipe 28 isrotated and the distal end portion of the brush member 39 attached tothe flange part 35 slidably contacts the mesh filter 31 so that dustattached to the upper surface of the mesh filter 31 can be detached andthe clogging of the mesh filter 31 can be eliminated.

In the rear lower end portion of the dust collecting case 20, providedis a latching part 44 for latching the rear end portion of the filtermember 30 (lower holding member 30A). On the other hand, in the lowerend portion of the outer circumferential surface of the dust collectingcase 20, provided is a latching claw 45 for latching the front endportion of the filter member 30 (lower holding member 30A). The latchingclaw 45 is longitudinally pivotally movable about the upper end portionthereof, and in a state that the latching claw 45 is vertically extendedalong the outer circumferential surface of the dust collecting case 20,a claw part 45A formed in the lower end portion thereof can be latchedonto the front end portion of the filter member 30.

On the front end portion of the outer surface of the dust collectingcase 20, an operating lever 46 is extended from the middle portion inthe vertical direction to the lower end portion thereof. The operatinglever 246 is operated for releasing the engagement of the latching claw245 with the filter member 30. The lower end portion of the operatinglever 46 is inserted between the outer circumferential surface of thedust collecting case 20 and the latching claw 45. The operating lever 46is urged upward by a spring 47 provided at the upper end potion thereof.By pushing down the operating lever 46 against the urging force of thespring 47, the latching claw 45 is pushed forward by an inclined surface46A provided in the lower end portion of the operating lever 46 so thatthe engagement of the latching claw 45 with the filter member 30 can bereleased. In a state that the latching claw 45 is disengaged, the filtermember 30 can be detached from the dust collecting case 20.

By detaching the filter member 30 from the dust collecting case 20, theair outlet port 14 is opened and dust stored in the dust catch room 29can be easily thrown away through the air outlet port 14. Further,minute dust stored in the branched pipe 28 can be also thrown away. Withsuch an arrangement, by taking out the filter member 30 from the dustcollecting case 20, detaching away dust attached to the mesh filter 31and the paper filter 32 and attaching the filter member 30 to the dustcollecting case 20 again, the filter can be repeatedly used. Therefore,this cleaner is more economical than a cleaner of a type in which dustis caught in a disposable paper package.

In a state that the filter member 30 is detached from the dustcollecting case 20, the upper holding member 30B can be pivotally movedupward about the hinge 33 with respect to the lower holding member 30A.Since the mesh filter 31 and the paper filter 32 are spaced from eachother with a predetermined space, a room 48 is defined therebetween. Bypivotally moving the upper holding member 30B with respect to the lowerholding member 30A, the room 48 can be opened. By opening the room 48 bypivotally moving the upper holding member 30B with respect to the lowerholding member 30A, disposing another filter above the paper filter 32and closing the upper holding member 30B, a filter other than the meshfilter 31 and the paper filter 32 can be provided in the room 48. As theabovementioned another filter, for example, a filter for exclusive usesuch as a urethane filer can be used or tissue paper sheets can be used.By providing another filter in the room 48 defined between the meshfilter 31 and a paper filter 32 as abovementioned, dust is hardlyattached to the paper filter 32 and therefore the paper filter 32 can beeasily maintained only by exchanging the abovementioned another filter.

In this embodiment, even if a large amount of dust is stored in the dustcatch room 29 and the resistance becomes large at the time when airpasses through the dust catch room 29, an air stream is ensured by thebranched pipe 28. Therefore, the whole air stream passing through thedust collecting unit 10 can be maintained and the cleaning efficiency(power) is not lowered.

Further, since the mesh filter 27 provided in the connecting portion ofthe guide member 24 and the cylindrical filter 25 can prevent dust fromflowing into the branched pipe 28, dust is not stored in the branchedpipe 28 and air flow is not reduced there.

Further, the air flows from the upper portion down to the lower portionin the dust catch room 29, and dust flows with the air flow and isstored in the lower portion of the dust catch room 29. Therefore, dustis pushed down by the air from the upper portion in the dust catch room29 and condensed not to become bulky.

Further, the air and dust taken in through the inlet port 12 flowsmainly through the guide member 24 to enter the dust catch room 29.Since the air ports 26 of the branched pipe 28 are substantially inparallel with the direction of the air flow in the guide member 24, dustdoes not go through the air ports 26 into the branched pipe 28 but flowsthrough the guide member 24 in which dust flows more easily. Further,since the mesh filters 27 are provided, dust is more surely preventedfrom entering the branched pipe 28. Only a sufficient amount of air toensure air flow flows through the air ports 26 into the branched pipe28.

Further, since the air flowing from the upper portion down to the lowerportion in the dust catch room 29 passes straightly the filter member 30in the lower portion and is discharged downward through the air outletport 14, the air flow in the dust catch room 29 is simple and the poweris not reduced.

Further, since the direction of the air flow in the branched pipe 28 isthe same with that of the air flow in the dust catch room 29, the airflows smoothly and the power is not reduced.

Furthermore, since the outlet of the branched pipe 28 faces a portion ofthe filter member 30 the position of which is different from theposition of a portion of the filter member 30 through which the airhaving passed through the dust catch room 29 passes, the air flowflowing from the branched pipe 28 through the filter member 30 to theair outlet port 14 can be ensured even if a large amount of dust isstored on this side of the filter member 30.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a dust collecting unit 110 according tothe first modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit 110sectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seenfrom the left side. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit110 according to the first modified embodiment with a part thereof beingshown in a sectional view for simplification of the inner arrangement.FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 110 according tothe first modified embodiment seen along the arrow B-B shown in FIG. 7.FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 110 according tothe first modified embodiment seen along the arrow C-C shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the dust collecting unit 110 includes asubstantially rectangular dust collecting case 120 which defines theoutline of the dust collecting unit 110. On the upper end portion of thedust collecting case 120, provided is a gripping part 121 which isgripped when the dust collecting case 120 is attached to or detachedfrom the cleaner 1. The inside of the dust collecting case 120 isdivided into an upper chamber 122 defined in the upper end portionthereof and a lower chamber 123 defined from the middle portion to thelower end portion thereof. An inlet port 112 is provided in the leftsurface of the dust collecting case 120 and directed in the lateraldirection to face the upper end portion of the lower chamber 123.

In the upper portion of the lower chamber 123, provided is ahorizontally elongated pipe-shaped guide member 124 one end of which isconnected to the inlet port 112. More specifically, the guide member 124has a substantially L-shaped form including a laterally elongatedupstream side part 124A one end of which is connected to the inlet port112 and a downstream side part 124B elongated rearward from the otherend of the upstream side part 124A. The inside (inner angle side) of aportion adjacent to the connecting portion of the upstream side part124A and the downstream side part 124B is positioned on the central axisof the dust collecting case 120. In the guide member 124, provided is acylindrical filter 125 substantially in the form of a cylindervertically elongated along the central axis of the dust collecting case120. In other words, the guide member 124 is extended along the outercircumferential surface of the cylindrical filter 125, and the air takenin through the inlet port 112 flows along the outer circumferentialsurface of the cylindrical filter 125 to be led to the distal end of theguide member 124. The cylindrical filter 125 is provided in its outercircumferential surface with a plurality of air holes 26, and each ofthe air holes 126 is covered with a mesh filter 127. The air hole 126 isopened in a direction substantially in parallel with the air stream inthe guide member 124.

The air taken in through the inlet port 112 passes through the guidemember 124 to be led to the distal end of the downstream side part 124Bas shown with white arrows in FIGS. 7 and 9, and a part of the air flowsinto the air holes 126 through the mesh filters 127 to be led into thecylindrical filter 125 as shown with black arrows in FIGS. 7 and 9. Onthe other hand, dust contained in the air taken in through the inletport 112, since being heavier than the air, passes the outer side (outerangle side) of the guide member 124 to be led to the distal end of thedownstream side part 124B by an inertia force. The cylindrical filter125 is disposed in a position away from the flowing path of the dust inthe guide member 124, and dust contained in the air taken in through theinlet port 112 is kept away from the cylindrical filter 125 to be led tothe distal end of the guide member 124 and discharged through an opening124C provided in the lower surface of the distal end of the guide member124 into the lower chamber 123. Thereby, the cylindrical filter 125 canbe prevented from hindering the dust flow in the guide member 124.

In the dust collecting case 120, a branched pipe 128 is so disposed asto obliquely downwardly extend toward the front side with one end (theupper end) of the branched pipe 128 being connected to the lower end ofthe cylindrical filter 125. The air flowing from the air holes 126through the mesh filer 127 into the cylindrical filter 125 is ledforward through the branched pipe 128. A space outside the branched pipe128 in the lower chamber 123 defines a dust catch room 129 for catchingand storing dust discharged from the distal end of the guide member 124.In other words, a filter member 130 is provided on the front surface ofthe dust collecting case 120 (the lower chamber 123), and when the airdischarged from the guide member 124 goes forward and passes the filtermember 130, dust contained in the air is caught by the filter member 130to be stored in the dust catch room 129.

The front surface of the dust collecting case 120 is provided with asubstantially rectangular opening, which defines the air outlet port 114for discharging the air from which dust has been caught. A filter member130 is detachably attached to the front end portion of the dustcollecting case 120 so that it covers the air outlet opening 114. Thefilter member 130 includes a mesh filter 131 having a substantiallyrectangular shape in a front view and facing the dust catch room 129,and a paper filter 132 having a substantially rectangular shape in afront view and disposed in front of the mesh filter 131 with apredetermined space therebetween. The paper filter 132 is held by afront holding member 130A having a shape corresponding to the air outletport 114, while the mesh filter 131 is held by a rear holding member130B pivotally attached to the upper end portion of the rear surface ofthe lower holding member 130A via a hinge 133. The rear holding member130B is provided with a frame member 130C framed in a substantiallyrectangular shape for holding the mesh filter 131. The front holdingmember 130A is provided with a gripping part 130D to be gripped at thetime of attaching or detaching the filter member 130 to or from the dustcollecting case 120. By drawing the filter member 130 with gripping thegripping part 130D, the filter member 130 can be detached from the dustcollecting case 120.

Thereby, dust stored in the dust catch room 129 can be easily thrownaway. Further, minute dust stored in the branched pipe 128 can be alsothrown away. With such an arrangement, by taking out the filter member130 from the dust collecting case 120, detaching away dust attached tothe mesh filter 131 and the paper filter 132 and attaching the filtermember 130 to the dust collecting case 120 again, the filter can berepeatedly used. Therefore, this cleaner is more economical than acleaner of a type in which dust is caught in a disposable paper package.

The paper filter 132 is not limited to one having a substantiallyrectangular shape in a front view but it may be one having asubstantially circular shape in a front view. In this case, the grippingpart 130D may be connected to the central portion of the paper filter132 so that, by rotating the gripping part 130D, the paper filter 132can be rotated about its axis. In the case of such an arrangement, byproviding a projection protruding on the locus of the peripheral portionof the rotating paper filter 132 and rotating the gripping part 130D,the end portions of a plurality of filter paper sheets provided on thepaper filter 132 are struck against the projection to shake the filterpaper sheets so that dust attached onto the filter paper can be shakendown. Thereby, clogging of the paper filter 132 can be eliminated.

In a state that the filter member 130 is detached from the dustcollecting case 120, the rear holding member 130B can be pivotally movedrearward about the hinge 133 with respect to the front holding member130A. Since the mesh filter 131 and the paper filter 132 are spaced fromeach other with a predetermined space, a room 148 is definedtherebetween. By pivotally moving the rear holding member 130B withrespect to the front holding member 130A, the room 148 can be opened. Byopening the room 148 by pivotally moving the rear holding member 130Bwith respect to the front holding member 130A, disposing another filterbehind the paper filter 132 and closing the rear holding member 130B, afilter other than the mesh filter 131 and the paper filter 132 can beprovided in the room 148. As the abovementioned another filter, forexample, a filter for exclusive use such as a urethane filer can be usedor tissue paper sheets can be used. By providing another filter in theroom 148 defined between the mesh filter 131 and a paper filter 132 asabovementioned, dust is hardly attached to the paper filter 132 andtherefore the paper filter 132 can be easily maintained only byexchanging the abovementioned another filter.

The front end portion of the branched pipe 128 faces the upper endportion of the central portion in the lateral direction of the filtermember 130. As shown with white arrows in FIG. 7, the air flowing fromthe guide member 124 into the dust catch room 129 passes the otherportion of the filter member 130 than the portion faced by the branchedpipe 128 to be discharged through the air outlet port 114. Rather largedust (larger dust) of dust contained in the air delivered from the dustcatch room 129 toward the air outlet port 114 is caught by the meshfilter 131 to be stored in the dust catch room 129 while rather smalldust (minute dust) having passed the mesh filter 131 is caught by thepaper filter 132. On the other hand, the air led through the branchedpipe 128 frontward is brought toward the upper portion of the filtermember 130 from the front end potion of the branched pipe 128, andpasses the mash filter 131 and the paper filter 132 to be dischargedthrough the air outlet port 114.

The bottom surface of the dust collecting case 120 is opened and thisopening 149 can be opened or closed by a lid 150 the front end portionof which is pivotally held by a hinge 133. In the lower portion of therear surface of the dust collecting case 120, provided is a latchingclaw 145 for latching the rear end portion of the lid 150. The latchingclaw 145 is longitudinally pivotal about the central portion thereof. Ina state that the latching claw 145 is vertically extended along the rearsurface of the dust collecting case 120, a claw part 145A formed in thelower end portion thereof can be latched onto the rear end portion ofthe lid 150.

On the rear surface of the dust collecting case 120, an operating lever146 to be operated for releasing the engagement of the latching claw 145with the lid 150 is extended from the middle portion in the verticaldirection to the lower end portion thereof. By pushing down theoperating lever 146, the latching claw 145 is pivotally moved in thelower end portion of the operating lever 146 so that the engagement ofthe latching claw 145 with the lid 150 can be released. In a state thatthe latching claw 145 is disengaged, the lid 150 is pivotally movableabout the hinge 133. By pivotally moving the lid 150 to open the opening149, dust stored in the dust catch room 129 can be discharged throughthe opening 149.

In this modified embodiment, even if a large amount of dust is stored inthe dust catch room 129 and the resistance becomes large at the timewhen air passes through the dust catch room 129, an air stream isensured by the branched pipe 128. Therefore, the whole air streampassing through the dust collecting unit 110 can be maintained and thecleaning efficiency (power) is not lowered.

Further, since the mesh filter 127 provided in the connecting portion ofthe guide member 124 and the cylindrical filter 125 can prevent dustfrom flowing into the branched pipe 128, dust is not stored in thebranched pipe 128 and air flow is not reduced there.

Further, the air flows from the upper portion down to the lower portionin the dust catch room 129, and dust flows with the air flow to bestored in the lower portion of the dust catch room 129. Therefore, dustis pushed down by the air from the upper portion in the dust catch room129 and condensed so as not to become bulky.

Further, the air and dust taken in through the inlet port 112 flowsmainly through the guide member 124 to enter the dust catch room 129.Since the air ports 126 of the branched pipe 128 are substantially inparallel with the direction of the air flow in the guide member 124,dust does not go through the air ports 126 into the branched pipe 128but flows through the guide member 124 in which dust flows more easily.Further, since the mesh filters 127 are provided, dust is more surelyprevented from entering the branched pipe 128. Only a sufficient amountof air to ensure air flow flows through the air ports 126 into thebranched pipe 128.

Further, dust contained in the air flowing from the upper portion downto the lower portion in the dust catch room 129 is stored at the bottomof the dust catch room 129 by its own weight. The air passes the filtermember 130 in the side portion and is discharged through the air outletport 114. In the dust catch room 129, air flow can be ensured with dustbeing stored from the bottom portion thereof. Therefore, dust collectingpower is not easily reduced.

Further, since dust hardly reaches the upper portion of the filtermember 130 on the side surface, air passage for discharging the airflowing from the branched pipe 128 through the filter member 130 can beensured.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a dust collecting unit 210 according tothe second modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit 210sectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seenfrom the left side. FIG. 12 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit210 according to the second modified embodiment with a part thereofbeing shown in a sectional view for simplification of the innerarrangement. FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 210seen along the arrow D-D shown in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the dust collecting unit 210 includes asubstantially cylindrical dust collecting case 220 which defines theoutline of the dust collecting unit 210. On the upper end portion of thedust collecting case 220, provided is a gripping part 221 which isgripped when the dust collecting case 220 is attached to or detachedfrom the cleaner 1. The inside of the dust collecting case 220 isdivided into an upper chamber 222 defined in the upper end portionthereof and a lower chamber 223 defined from the middle portion to thelower end portion thereof. An inlet port 212 is provided in the upperchamber 222, and the air taken in through the inlet port 212 is led inthe direction of a tangential line of the outer circumferential surfaceof the dust collecting case 220 into the upper chamber 222.

In the upper chamber 222, provided is a horizontally elongatedpipe-shaped guide member 224 one end of which is connected to the inletport 212. More specifically, the guide member 224 has a substantiallyL-shaped form including a laterally elongated upstream side part 224Aone end of which is connected to the inlet port 212 and a downstreamside part 224B elongated rearward from the other end of the upstreamside part 224A. The rear end portion of the downstream side part 224B ispositioned on the central axis of the dust collecting case 220 and opensdownwardly in the rear end portion (lower end portion) thereof. To thelower end portion of the guide member 224, connected is the upper endportion of a cylindrical filter 225 substantially in the form of acylinder vertically elongated along the central axis of the dustcollecting case 220. The cylindrical filter 225 is provided in its outercircumferential surface with a plurality of air holes 226, and each ofthe air holes 226 is covered with a mesh filter 227. The air hole 226 isopened in a direction substantially in parallel with the air stream inthe cylindrical filter 225.

The air taken in through the inlet port 212 passes through the guidemember 224 to be led downward, and led further downward through thecylindrical filter 225 as shown with white arrows in FIGS. 11 and 12,and a part of the air flows from the air holes 226 through the meshfilters 227 to be led out of the cylindrical filter 225 as shown withblack arrows in FIGS. 11 and 12. On the other hand, dust contained inthe air taken in through the inlet port 212, since being heavier thanair, is caused to pass the cylindrical filter 225 by an inertia force(by its own weight) to be led downward. To the end portion of thecylindrical filter 225 connected is the upper end portion of a downwardextended guide pipe 247. The lower end (distal end) of the guide pipe249 is curved rearwardly in the central portion of the lower chamber 223and opens rearward. However, the lower end portion of the guide pipe 249may open in another direction (e.g. forward) in the horizontal directionor may open downward.

In the upper end portion of the lower chamber 223, a branched path 228enclosing the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical filter225 is so defined as to extend in the horizontal direction. The airflowing from the air holes 226 through the mesh filer 227 out of thecylindrical filter 225 is led forward through the branched path 228. Thebranched path 228 extends downwardly from its front end portion alongthe front surface of the dust collecting case 220 to the bottom of thedust collecting case 220. A space outside the branched path 228 in thelower chamber 223 defines a dust catch room 229 for catching and storingdust discharged from the distal end of the guide member 224. In otherwords, a filter member 230 is provided in the bottom portion of the dustcollecting case 220 (the lower chamber 223) When the air discharged fromthe guide pipe 249 goes downwardly and passes the filter member 230,dust contained in the air is caught by the filter member 230 to bestored in the dust catch room 229.

In this modified embodiment, the branched path 228 is so defined as toenclose the outside of the cylindrical filter 225 and disposed in aposition away from the dust flow passage in the cylindrical filter 225.Therefore, dust contained in the air taken in through the inlet port 212flows downward in the cylindrical filter 225, preventing the branchedpath 228 from hindering the dust flow in the cylindrical filter 225.

The bottom surface of the dust collecting case 220 is opened and theopening defines the air outlet port 214 for discharging the air fromwhich dust has been caught. A filter member 230 is detachably attachedto the lower end portion of the dust collecting case 220 so that itcovers the air outlet opening 214. The filter member 230 includes a meshfilter 231 having a substantially circular shape in a plan view andfacing the dust catch room 229, and a paper filter 232 having asubstantially circular shape in a plan view and disposed below the meshfilter 231 with a predetermined space therebetween. The paper filter 232is held by a lower holding member 230A having a shape corresponding tothe air outlet port 214, while the mesh filter 231 is held by an upperholding member 230B pivotally attached to the rear end portion of theupper surface of the lower holding member 230A via a hinge 233. In thecentral portion of the upper holding member 230B, an upward protrudedcylindrical part 234 is provided so as to enclose the outercircumference of the paper filer 232 held by the lower holding member230A, and the mesh filter 231 is attached so as to cover the upper endopening of the cylindrical part 234.

In the lower portion of the guide pipe 249, formed is a pipe-shapedextended part 250 which is divided from the rearward curved part andextends further downward from the curved part along the central axis ofthe dust collecting case 220.

In the lower end portion of the extended part 250, a substantiallycircular flange part 235 is provided so as to be stretched in thediametrical direction and opposed to the upper end opening of thecylindrical part 234 provided on the upper holding member 230B of thefilter member 230. The flange part 235 stretched from the lower endportion of the extended part 250 has the same structure as describedwith reference to FIG. 6 and includes an annular part 36 having a shapecorresponding to the upper end face of the cylindrical part 234 of thefilter member 230 and a plurality of (e.g. four) connecting parts 37connecting the inner circumferential surface of the annular part 36 andthe outer circumferential surface of the extended part 250.

The connecting parts 37 are respectively extended in the diametricaldirection from the outer circumferential surface of the lower endportion of the extended part 250 respectively with a space of apredetermined angle (e.g. 90 degrees) therebetween. A plurality of (e.g.four) openings defined by the inner circumferential surface of theannular part 36 and the connecting parts 37 constitute air port 38 forpassing the air flowing into the dust catch room 229 toward the filtermember 230. In other words, as shown with white arrows in FIG. 11, theair flowing from the guide pipe 249 into the dust catch room 229 passesthe air ports 38 to be led to the filter member 230, and passes the meshfilter 231 and the paper filter 232 to be discharged through the airoutlet port 214. Rather large dust (larger dust) of the dust containedin the air delivered from the dust catch room 229 toward the air outletport 214 is caught by the mesh filter 231 to be stored in the dust catchroom 229, while rather small dust (minute dust) having passed the meshfilter 231 is caught by the paper filter 232.

In the upper portion of the front end of the cylindrical part 234provided on the upper holding member 230B of the filter member 230, anairport 251 is provided. Through this air port 251, the distal end(lower end) of the branched path 228 is communicated with a room 248defined between the mesh filter 231 and the paper filter 232. The airled through the branched path 228 downward flows from the lower endthereof through the air port 251 into the abovementioned room 248 andpasses the paper filter 232 to be discharged through the air outlet port214.

A brush member 239 (e.g. bristles) is attached to the lower surface ofeach connecting part 37 of the flange part 235. The distal end portionsof these brush members 239 are in contact with the upper surface of themesh filter 231. In this modified embodiment, the filter member 230 andthe guide pipe 249 can be integrally rotated, and with this rotation,the distal end portions of the brush members 239 attached to the flangepart 235 slidably contact the mesh filter 231. More specifically, theupper end portion of the cylindrical filter 225 penetrates a divisionwall 240 dividing the upper chamber 222 and the lower chamber 223 of thedust collecting case 220 to face the upper chamber 222. With the lowersurface of the flange part 241 provided on the outer circumferentialsurface of the upper end portion of the cylindrical filter 225contacting the upper surface of the division wall 240, the cylindricalfilter 225 and the guide pipe 249 connected to the cylindrical filter225 are rotatably held.

A plurality of teeth are provided on the outer peripheral edge of theupper surface of the flange part 235 provided on the upper end portionof the cylindrical filter 225. A gear 242 engageable with the teeth isprovided in the upper chamber 222 of the dust collecting case 220. Ashaft of the gear 242 is extended in the longitudinal direction and isconnected to a dial 243 stretched outward from the rear end of thecircumferential surface of the dust collecting case 220. When the dial43 is rotated, the flange part 235 is rotated via the gear 242, and thecylindrical filer 225 and the guide pipe 228 are rotated. Thereby, theflange part 235 provided on the lower portion of the extended part 250of the guide pipe 249 is rotated, and the distal end portion of thebrush member 239 attached to the flange part 235 slidably contacts themesh filter 231 so that dust attached to the upper surface of the meshfilter 231 can be detached and the clogging of the mesh filter 231 canbe eliminated.

In the lower portion of the rear end portion of the dust collecting case220, provided is a latching part 244 for latching the rear end portionof the filter member 230 (lower holding member 230A). On the other hand,in the front end portion of the lower portion of the outercircumferential surface of the dust collecting case 220, provided is alatching claw 245 for latching the front end portion of the filtermember 230 (lower holding member 230A). The latching claw 245 islongitudinally pivotally movable about the upper end portion thereof. Ina state that the latching claw 245 is vertically extended along theouter circumferential surface of the dust collecting case 220, a clawpart 245A formed in the lower end portion thereof can be latched ontothe front end portion of the filter member 230.

On the front end portion of the outer surface of the dust collectingcase 220, an operating lever 246 is extended from the middle portion inthe vertical direction to the lower end portion thereof. The operatinglever 246 is operated for releasing the engagement of the latching claw245 with the filter member 230. The lower end portion of the operatinglever 246 is inserted between the outer circumferential surface of thedust collecting case 220 and the latching claw 245. The operating lever246 is urged upward by a spring 247 provided at the upper end potionthereof. By pushing down the operating lever 246 against the urgingforce of the spring 247, the latching claw 245 is pushed forward by aninclined surface 246A provided in the lower end portion of the operatinglever 246 so that the engagement of the latching claw 245 with thefilter member 230 can be released. In a state that the latching claw 245is disengaged, the filter member 230 can be detached from the dustcollecting case 220.

By detaching the filter member 230 from the dust collecting case 220,the air outlet port 214 is opened and dust stored in the dust catch room229 can be easily thrown away through the air outlet port 214. Further,minute dust stored in the branched path 228 can be also thrown away.With such an arrangement, by taking out the filter member 230 from thedust collecting case 220, detaching away dust attached to the meshfilter 231 and the paper filter 232 and attaching the filter member 230to the dust collecting case 220 again, the filter can be repeatedlyused. Therefore, this cleaner is more economical than a cleaner of atype in which dust is caught in a disposable paper package.

In a state that the filter member 230 is detached from the dustcollecting case 220, the upper holding member 230B can be pivotallymoved upward about the hinge 233 with respect to the lower holdingmember 230A. Since the mesh filter 231 and the paper filter 232 arespaced from each other with a predetermined space, a room 248 is definedtherebetween. By pivotally moving the upper holding member 230B withrespect to the lower holding member 230A, the room 248 can be opened. Byopening the room 248 by pivotally moving the upper holding member 230Bwith respect to the lower holding member 230A, disposing another filterabove the paper filter 232 and closing the upper holding member 230B, afilter other than the mesh filter 231 and the paper filter 232 can beprovided in the room 248. As the abovementioned another filter, forexample, a filter for exclusive use such as a urethane filer can be usedor tissue paper sheets can be used. By providing another filter in theroom 248 defined between the mesh filter 231 and a paper filter 232 asmentioned above, dust is hardly attached to the paper filter 232 andtherefore the paper filter 232 can be easily maintained only byexchanging the abovementioned another filter.

In this modified embodiment, even if a large amount of dust is stored inthe dust catch room 229 and the resistance becomes large at the timewhen air passes through the dust catch room 229, an air stream isensured by the branched path 228. Therefore, the whole air streampassing through the dust collecting unit 210 can be maintained and thecleaning efficiency (power) is not lowered.

Further, since the mesh filter 227 provided in the connecting portion ofthe guide member 224 and the cylindrical filter 225 can prevent dustfrom flowing into the branched path 228, dust is not stored in thebranched path 228 and air flow is not reduced there.

Further, the air flows from the upper portion down to the lower portionin the dust catch room 229, and dust flows with the air flow and isstored in the lower portion of the dust catch room 229. Therefore, dustis pushed down by the air from the upper portion in the dust catch room229 and condensed so as not to become bulky.

Further, the air and dust taken in through the inlet port 212 flowsmainly through the cylindrical filter 225 to enter the dust catch room229. Since the air ports 226 of the branched path 228 are substantiallyin parallel with the direction of the air flow in the cylindrical filter225, dust does not go through the air ports 226 into the branched path228 but flows through the cylindrical filter 225 in which dust flowsmore easily. Further, since the mesh filters 227 are provided, dust ismore surely prevented from entering the branched path 228. Only asufficient amount of air to ensure air flow flows through the air ports226 into the branched path 228.

Further, since the air flowing from the upper portion down to the lowerportion in the dust catch room 229 passes straight the filter member 230in the lower portion and is discharged downward through the air outletport 214, the air flow in the dust catch room 229 is simple and thepower is not reduced.

Further, since the direction of the air flow in the branched path 228 isthe same with that of the air flow in the dust catch room 229, the airflows smoothly and the power is not reduced.

Furthermore, since the outlet of the branched path 228 faces a portionof the filter member 230 the position of which is different from theposition of a portion of the filter member 230 through which the airhaving passed through the dust catch room 229 passes, the air flowflowing from the branched path 228 through the filter member 230 to theair outlet port 214 can be ensured even if a large amount of dust isstored on this side of the filter member 230.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a dust collecting unit 310 according tothe third modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit 310sectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seenfrom the left side. FIG. 15 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit310 according to the third modified embodiment with a part thereof beingshown in a sectional view for simplification of the inner arrangement.FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 310 according tothe third modified embodiment seen along the arrow E-E shown in FIG. 14.FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 310 according tothe third embodiment seen along the arrow F-F shown in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17, the dust collecting unit 310 includes adust collecting case 320 having a substantially rectangular shape in aplan view and defining the outline of the dust collecting unit 310. Onthe upper end portion of the dust collecting case 320, provided is agripping part 321 which is gripped when the dust collecting case 320 isattached to or detached from the cleaner 1. The inside of the dustcollecting case 320 is divided into an upper chamber 322 defined in theupper end portion thereof and a lower chamber 323 defined from themiddle portion to the lower end portion thereof. An inlet port 312 isprovided in the left surface of the dust collecting case 320 anddirected in the lateral direction to face the upper end portion of thelower chamber 323.

In the upper portion of the lower chamber 323, provided is ahorizontally elongated pipe-shaped guide member 324 one end of which isconnected to the inlet port 312. More specifically, the guide member 324has a substantially L-shaped form including a laterally elongatedupstream side part 324A one end of which is connected to the inlet port312 and a downstream side part 324B elongated rearward from the otherend of the upstream side part 324A. The rear end portion of thedownstream side part 324B is positioned in the rear end portion of thedust collecting case 320, and is opened downward at the rear end portion(lower end portion). On the way of the upstream side part 324A of theguide member 324, interposed is a cylindrical filter 325 substantiallyin the form of a cylinder. The cylindrical filter 325 is provided in itsouter circumferential surface with a plurality of air holes 326, each ofwhich is covered with a mesh filter 327. The air hole 326 is opened in adirection substantially in parallel with the air stream in thecylindrical filter 325.

The air taken in through the inlet port 312 passes through the guidemember 324 to be led to the distal end of the downstream side part 324Bas shown with white arrows in FIGS. 14 and 16, and a part of the airflows from the air holes 326 through the mesh filters 327 to be led outof the cylindrical filter 325 as shown with black arrows in FIGS. 15 and16. On the other hand, dust contained in the air taken in through theinlet port 312, since being heavier than air, is caused to pass thecylindrical filter 325 by an inertia force to be led to the distal endof the downstream side part 324B.

In the upper end portion of the lower chamber 323, a branched path 228enclosing the outer circumferential surface of the guide member 324 isso defined as to extend in the horizontal direction. The air flowingfrom the air holes 326 through the mesh filer 327 out of the cylindricalfilter 325 is led through the branched path 328 downward from the frontend thereof. A space outside the branched path 328 in the lower chamber323 defines a dust catch room 329 for catching and storing dustdischarged from the distal end of the guide member 324. In other words,a filter member 330 is provided on the front surface of the dustcollecting case 320 (the lower chamber 323). When the air dischargedfrom the guide member 324 goes forward and passes the filter member 330,dust contained in the air is caught by the filter member 330 to bestored in the dust catch room 329.

In this modified embodiment, the branched path 328 is so defined as toenclose the outside of the guide member 324 and the cylindrical filter325 and disposed in a position away from the dust flow passage in thecylindrical filter 325. Therefore, dust contained in the air taken inthrough the inlet port 312 flows rearward in the cylindrical filter 325,preventing the branched path 328 from hindering the dust flow in thecylindrical filter 325.

The front surface of the dust collecting case 320 is provided with asubstantially rectangular opening, and the opening defines the airoutlet port 314 for discharging the air from which dust has been caught.A filter member 330 is detachably attached to the front end portion ofthe dust collecting case 320 so that it covers the air outlet port 314.The filter member 330 includes a mesh filter 331 having a substantiallyrectangular shape in a front view and facing the dust catch room 329,and a paper filter 332 having a substantially rectangular shape in afront view and disposed in front of the mesh filter 331 with apredetermined space therebetween. The paper filter 332 is held by afront holding member 330A having a shape corresponding to the air outletport 314, while the mesh filter 331 is held by an rear holding member330B pivotally attached to the upper end portion of the rear surface ofthe front holding member 330A via a hinge 333. The front holding member330A is provided with a gripping part 330D to be gripped at the time ofattaching or detaching the filter member 330 to or from the dustcollecting case 320. By drawing the filter member 330 with gripping thegripping part 330D, the filter member 330 can be detached from the dustcollecting case 320.

Thereby, dust stored in the dust catch room 329 can be easily thrownaway. Further, minute dust stored in the branched pipe 28 can be alsothrown away. With such an arrangement, by taking out the filter member330 from the dust collecting case 320, detaching dust attached to themesh filter 331 and the paper filter 332 and attaching the filter member330 to the dust collecting case 320 again, the filter can be repeatedlyused. Therefore, this cleaner is more economical than a cleaner of atype in which dust is caught in a disposable paper package.

The paper filter 332 is not limited to one having a substantiallyrectangular shape in a front view, but it may be one having asubstantially circular shape in a front view. In this case, the grippingpart 330D may be connected to the central portion of the paper filter332 so that, by rotating the gripping part 330D, the paper filter 332can be rotated about its axis. In the case of such an arrangement, byproviding a projection protruding on the locus of the peripheral portionof the rotating paper filter 332 and rotating the gripping part 330D,the end portions of a plurality of filter paper sheets provided on thepaper filter 332 are struck against the projection to shake the filterpaper sheets so that dust attached onto the filter paper can be shakendown. Thereby, clogging of the paper filter 332 can be eliminated.

In a state that the filter member 330 is detached from the dustcollecting case 320, the rear holding member 330B can be pivotally movedrearward about the hinge 333 with respect to the front holding member330A. Since the mesh filter 331 and the paper filter 332 are spaced fromeach other with a predetermined space, a room 348 is definedtherebetween. By pivotally moving the rear holding member 330B withrespect to the front holding member 330A, the room 348 can be opened. Byopening the room 348 by pivotally moving the rear holding member 330Bwith respect to the front holding member 330A, disposing another filterbehind the paper filter 332 and closing the rear holding member 330B, afilter other than the mesh filter 331 and the paper filter 332 can beprovided in the room 348. As the abovementioned another filter, forexample, a filter for exclusive use such as a urethane filter can beused or tissue paper sheets can be used. By providing another filter inthe room 348 defined between the mesh filter 331 and a paper filter 332as mentioned above, dust is hardly attached to the paper filter 332 andtherefore the paper filter 332 can be easily maintained only byexchanging abovementioned another filter.

As shown with white arrows in FIG. 14, the air flowing from the guidemember 324 into the dust catch room 329 passes the filter member 330 tobe discharged through the air outlet port 314. Rather large dust (largerdust) of dust contained in the air delivered from the dust catch room329 toward the air outlet port 314 is caught by the mesh filter 331 tobe stored in the dust catch room 329 while rather small dust (minutedust) having passed the mesh filter 331 is caught by the paper filter332.

In the upper portion of the front holding member 330A of the filtermember 330, an airport 351 is provided. Through this air port 351, thelower portion of the front end portion of the branched path 328 iscommunicated with a room 348 defined between the mesh filter 331 and thepaper filter 332. The air led through the branched path 328 flows fromthe lower portion of the front end thereof through the air port 351 intothe abovementioned room 348 and passes the paper filter 332 to bedischarged through the air outlet port 314.

The bottom surface of the dust collecting case 320 is opened, and thisopening 349 can be opened or closed by a lid 350 the front end portionof which is pivotally held by a hinge 333. In the lower portion of therear surface of the dust collecting case 320, provided is a latchingclaw 345 for latching the rear end portion of the lid 350. The latchingclaw 345 is longitudinally pivotal about the central portion thereof. Ina state that the latching claw 345 is vertically extended along the rearsurface of the dust collecting case 320, a claw part 345A formed in thelower end portion thereof can be latched onto the rear end portion ofthe lid 350.

On the rear surface of the dust collecting case 320, an operating lever346 to be operated for releasing the engagement of the latching claw 345with the lid 350 is extended from the middle portion in the verticaldirection to the lower end portion thereof. By pushing down theoperating lever 346, the latching claw 345 is pivotally moved in thelower end portion of the operating lever 346 so that the engagement ofthe latching claw 345 with the lid 350 can be released. While thelatching claw 345 is disengaged, the lid 350 is pivotally movable aboutthe hinge 333. By pivotally moving the lid 350 to open the opening 349,dust stored in the dust catch room 329 can be discharged through theopening 349.

In this modified embodiment, even if a large amount of dust is stored inthe dust catch room 329 and the resistance becomes large at the timewhen air passes through the dust catch room 329, an air stream isensured by the branched path 328. Therefore, the whole air streampassing through the dust collecting unit 310 can be maintained and thecleaning efficiency (power) is not lowered.

Further, since the mesh filter 327 provided in the connecting portion ofthe guide member 324 and the cylindrical filter 325 can prevent dustfrom flowing into the branched path 328, dust is not stored in thebranched path 328 and air flow is not reduced there.

Further, the air flows from the upper portion down to the lower portionin the dust catch room 329, and dust flows with the air flow and isstored in the lower portion of the dust catch room 329. Therefore, dustis pushed down by the air from the upper portion in the dust catch room329 and condensed so as not to become bulky.

Further, the air and dust taken in through the inlet port 312 flowsmainly through the cylindrical filter 325 to enter the dust catch room329. Since the air ports 326 of the branched path 328 are substantiallyin parallel with the direction of the air flow in the cylindrical filter325, dust does not go through the air ports 326 into the branched path328 but flows through the cylindrical filter 325 in which dust flowsmore easily. Further, since the mesh filters 327 are provided, dust ismore surely prevented from entering the branched path 328. Only asufficient amount of air to ensure air flow flows through the air ports326 into the branched path 328.

Further, dust contained in the air flowing from the upper portion downto the lower portion in the dust catch room 329 is stored at the bottomof the dust catch room 329 by its own weight. The air passes the filtermember 330 in the side portion and is discharged through the air outletport 314. In the dust catch room 329, air flow can be ensured with dustbeing stored from the bottom portion thereof. Therefore, dust collectingpower is not reduced.

Further, since dust hardly reaches the upper portion of the filtermember 330 on the side surface, air passage for discharging the airflowing from the branched path 328 through the filter member 330 can beensured.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a dust collecting unit 410 according tothe fourth modified embodiment in which the dust collecting unit 410sectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction is seenfrom the left side. FIG. l9 is a rear view of the dust collecting unit410 according to the fourth modified embodiment with a part thereofbeing shown in a sectional view for simplification of the innerarrangement. FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 410seen along the arrow G-G shown in FIG. 18.

Referring to FIGS. 18 to 20, the dust collecting unit 410 includes asubstantially cylindrical dust collecting case 420 which defines theoutline of the dust collecting unit 410. On the upper end portion of thedust collecting case 420, provided is a gripping part 421 which isgripped when the dust collecting case 420 is attached to or detachedfrom the cleaner 1. The inside of the dust collecting case 420 isdivided into an upper chamber 422 defined in the upper end portionthereof and a lower chamber 423 defined from the middle portion to thelower end portion thereof. An inlet port 412 is provided in the upperchamber 422 and the air taken in through the inlet. port 412 is led inthe direction of a tangential line of the outer circumferential surfaceof the dust collecting case 420 into the upper chamber 422.

In the upper portion of the lower chamber 423, provided is ahorizontally elongated pipe-shaped guide member 424 one end of which isconnected to the inlet port 412. More specifically, the guide member 424has a substantially L-shaped form including a laterally elongatedupstream side part 424A one end of which is connected to the inlet port412 and a downstream side part 424B elongated rearward from the otherend of the upstream side part 424A. The rear end portion of thedownstream side part 424B is positioned on the axis line of the dustcollecting case 420, and is opened rearward at the rear end portionthereof. On the way of the downstream side part 424B of the guide member424, a cylindrical filter 425 substantially in the form of a cylinder isinterposed. The cylindrical filter 425 is provided with a plurality ofair holes 426 in its outer circumferential surface, each of which iscovered with a mesh filter 427. The air holes 426 are opened in adirection substantially in parallel with the air stream in thecylindrical filter 425.

The air taken in through the inlet port 412 passes through the guidemember 424 to be led through the cylindrical filter 425 to the distalend of the downstream side part 424B as shown with white arrows in FIGS.18 and 20, and a part of the air flows from the air holes 426 throughthe mesh filters 427 to be led out of the cylindrical filter 425 asshown with black arrows in FIGS. 18 and 20. On the other hand, dustcontained in the air taken in through the inlet port 412, since beingheavier than air, is caused to pass the cylindrical filter 425 by aninertia force to be led to the distal end of the downstream side part424B.

The lower chamber 423 is divided into two rooms, namely, a front roomand a rear room by a division wall 449 extending in the lateraldirection. The rear room of these two rooms constitutes a dust catchroom 429 for catching and storing dust discharged from the distal end ofthe guide member 424, while the front room constitutes a branched path428 enclosing the outside of the cylindrical filter 425. The air flowingfrom the air holes 426 through the mesh filer 427 out of the cylindricalfilter 425 is led downward through the branched path 428. A filtermember 430 is provided in the bottom portion of the dust collecting case420 (the lower chamber 423). When the air discharged from the guidemember 424 goes downward and passes the filter member 430, dustcontained in the air is caught by the filter member 430 to be stored inthe dust catch room 429.

In this modified embodiment, the branched path 428 is so defined as toenclose the outside of the cylindrical filter 425 and disposed in aposition away from the dust flow passage in the cylindrical filter 425.Therefore, dust contained in the air taken in through the inlet port 412flows rearward in the cylindrical filter 425, and the branched path 428can be prevented from hindering the dust flow in the cylindrical filter425.

The bottom surface of the dust collecting case 420 is opened and theopening defines the air outlet port 414 for discharging the air fromwhich dust has been caught. A filter member 430 is detachably attachedto the lower end portion of the dust collecting case 420 so that itcovers the air outlet opening 414. The filter member 430 includes a meshfilter 431 having a substantially circular shape in a plan view andfacing the dust catch room 429 and the branched path 428, and a paperfilter 432 having a substantially circular shape in a plan view anddisposed below the mesh filter 431 with a predetermined spacetherebetween. FIG. 21 is a plan view of the filter member 430. As shownin this figure, in the upper end portion of the filter member 430, anannular part 450 and a connecting part 451 bridged substantially in theshape of a cross onto the inner circumferential surface of the annularpart 450. The connecting part 451 includes a lateral connecting portion451A elongated in the lateral direction and a longitudinal connectingportion 451B elongated in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of(e.g. four) openings defined by the inner circumferential surface of theannular part 450 and the connecting part 451 constitutes air ports 438.

In a state that the filter member 430 is attached to the dust collectingcase 420, the lower end surface of the division wall 449 contacts theupper surface of the lateral connection portion 451A. Thereby, the airflowing into the dust catch room 429 flows through two air ports 438 onthe rear side among the four air ports 438 into the filter member 430,while the air flowing into the branched path 428 flows through two airports 438 on the front side among the four air ports 438. Rather largedust (larger dust) of the dust contained in the air delivered from thedust catch room 429 toward the air outlet port 414 is caught by the meshfilter 431 to be stored in the dust catch room 429, while rather smalldust (minute dust) having passed the mesh filter 431 is caught by thepaper filter 432.

In the lower portion of the rear end portion of the dust collecting case420, provided is a latching part 444 for latching the rear end portionof the filter member 430. On the other hand, in the front end portion ofthe lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of the dustcollecting case 420, provided is a latching claw 445 for latching thefront end portion of the filter member 430. The latching claw 445 islongitudinally pivotally movable about the upper end portion thereof. Ina state that the latching claw 445 is vertically extended along theouter circumferential surface of the dust collecting case 420, a clawpart 445A formed in the lower end portion thereof can be latched ontothe front end portion of the filter member 430.

On the front end portion of the outer surface of the dust collectingcase 420, an operating lever 446 is extended from the middle portion inthe vertical direction to the lower end portion thereof. The operatinglever 446 is operated for releasing the engagement of the latching claw445 with the filter member 430. The lower end portion of the operatinglever 446 is inserted between the outer circumferential surface of thedust collecting case 420 and the latching claw 445. The operating lever446 is urged upward by a spring 447 provided at the upper end potionthereof. By pushing down the operating lever 446 against the urgingforce of the spring 447, the latching claw 445 is pushed forward by aninclined surface 446A provided in the lower end portion of the operatinglever 446 so that the engagement of the latching claw 445 with thefilter member 430 can be released. In a state that the latching claw 445is disengaged, the filter member 430 can be detached from the dustcollecting case 420.

By detaching the filter member 430 from the dust collecting case 420,the air outlet port 414 is opened and dust stored in the dust catch room429 can be easily thrown away through the air outlet port 414. Further,minute dust stored in the branched path 428 can be also thrown away.With such an arrangement, by taking out the filter member 430 from thedust collecting case 420, detaching away dust attached to the meshfilter 431 and the paper filter 432 and attaching the filter member 430to the dust collecting case 420 again, the filter can be repeatedlyused. Therefore, this cleaner is more economical than a cleaner of atype in which dust is caught in a disposable paper package.

If another filter is disposed above the filter member 430 (mesh filter431) at the time of attaching the filter member 430 to the dustcollecting case 420, a filter other than the mesh filter 431 and thepaper filter 432 can be held between the upper surface of the divisionwall 449 and the upper surface of the filter member 430. As theabovementioned another filter, for example, a filter for exclusive usesuch as a urethane filer can be used or tissue paper sheets can be used.By providing another filter above the filter member 430, dust is hardlyattached to the filter member 430 (the mesh filter 431 and the paperfilter 432). Therefore, the paper filter 432 can be easily maintainedonly by exchanging the abovementioned another filter.

In this modified embodiment, even if a large amount of dust is stored inthe dust catch room 429 and the resistance becomes large at the timewhen air passes through the dust catch room 429, an air stream isensured by the branched path 428. Therefore, the whole air streampassing through the dust collecting unit 410 can be maintained and thecleaning efficiency (power) is not lowered.

Further, since the mesh filter 427 provided in the connecting portion ofthe branched path 428 and the cylindrical filter 425 can prevent dustfrom flowing into the branched path 428, dust is not stored in thebranched path 428 and air flow is not reduced there.

Further, the air flows from the upper portion down to the lower portionin the dust catch room 429, and dust flows with the air flow and isstored in the lower portion of the dust catch room 429. Therefore, dustis pushed down by the air from the upper portion in the dust catch room429 and condensed so as not to become bulky.

Further, the air and dust taken in through the inlet port 412 flowsmainly through the cylindrical filter 425 to enter the dust catch room429. Since the air ports 426 of the branched path 428 are substantiallyin parallel with the direction of the air flow in the cylindrical filter425, dust does not go through the air ports 426 into the branched path428 but flows through the cylindrical filter 425 in which dust flowsmore easily. Further, since the mesh filters 427 are provided, dust ismore surely prevented from entering the branched path 428. Only asufficient amount of air to ensure air flow flows through the air ports426 into the branched path 428.

Further, since the air flowing from the upper portion down to the lowerportion in the dust catch room 429 passes straight the filter member 430in the lower portion and is discharged downward through the air outletport 414, the air flow in the dust catch room 429 is simple and thepower is not reduced.

Further, since the direction of the air flow in the branched path 428 isthe same with that of the air flow in the dust catch room 429, the airflows smoothly and the power is not reduced.

Furthermore, since the outlet of the branched path 428 faces a portionof the filter member 430 the position of which is different from theposition of a portion of the filter member 430 through which the airhaving passed through the dust catch room 429 passes, the air flowflowing from the branched path 428 through the filter member 230 to theair outlet port 414 can be ensured even if a large amount of dust isstored on this side of the filter member 430.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are outline views showing the structure of a cleaner 501according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 is aleft side view and FIG. 23 is a rear view. In each of these views, apart of the cleaner 501 is shown in a sectional view for simplificationof the inner arrangement of the cleaner 501.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the cleaner 501 includes a suction section503 provided with a plurality of wheels 502 which roll on the floor, anda long-shaped main body 504 pivotally attached, at one end (the lowerend), to the suction section 503. This cleaner is an upright type(longitudinal type) cleaner which is used in a position somewhatinclined rearward with respect to the vertical direction by a user withholding a handle 505 provided at the other end (upper end) of the mainbody 504. When unused, this cleaner 501 can be maintained in a positionin which the main body 504 is upright in the vertical direction withrespect to the suction section 503 (position as shown in FIGS. 22 and23).

A suction port 506 is provided on the front side of the bottom surfaceof the suction section 503. On the rear side of the inside of thesuction section 503, provided is an electric blower 507 including amotor and a fan adapted to be rotated by the motor.

When cleaning with this cleaner 501, an electric power switch 508provided on the main body 504 (for example, at the upper end of abelowmentioned lower member 504A) is turned on to start the driving ofthe electric blower 507, and thereby dust on the floor opposed to thesuction port 506 is sucked through the suction port 506 into the suctionsection 503. On the front side of the inside of the suction section 503,provided is a rotary brush 509 rotatable around a rotation shaft 509Aelongated in the lateral direction. The outer circumferential surface ofthis rotary brush 509 faces the suction port 506. When the electricblower 507 is driven, the rotary brush 509 is rotated by the pressure ofthe air sucked through the suction port 506 into the suction section 503thereby to assist dust to flow through the suction port 506 into thesuction section 503 and at the same time to prevent extraneoussubstances from flowing through the suction port 506 into the suctionsection 503. However, the rotary brush 509 may be driven to rotate by amotor.

A dust collecting unit 510 for catching dust contained in the air suckedthrough the suction section 503 is detachably attached to the main body504. The main body 504 is provided with a lower member 504A which isdisposed above the suction section 503 and carries the dust collectingunit 510, and an upper member 504B which has one end (the lower end)inserted into the upper portion of the lower member 504A and is curvedso as to be inclined rearward as it extends upwardly, and the whole mainbody 504 has a shape elongated in the vertical direction. Two endportions of an arched handle 505 are connected to the upper portion ofthe front surface of the upper member 504B. When a user gripping thishandle 505 applies a force in the direction of the elongation of themain body 504, a propelling force is given to the main body 504 and thesuction section 503 connected to the main body 504 so that the cleaner501 can move with the wheels 502 being rotated. Two code winding parts511 are projected from the upper and lower end portions respectively ofthe rear surface of the upper member 504B. When the cleaner 501 isunused or a power code of the cleaner 501 is excessively long, the codecan be wound round the two code winding parts 511 with the codestretched therebetween.

The dust collecting unit 510 is provided with an inlet port 512.Connected to the inlet port 512 of the dust collecting unit 510 is oneend of a hose 513 the other end of which is connected to the suctionsection 503. Thereby, the air and dust sucked into the suction section503 is transferred through the hose 513 toward the dust collecting unit510 and taken through the inlet port 512 into the dust collecting unit510. In the process that the air containing dust taken into the dustcollecting unit 510 passes the dust collecting unit 510, dust containedin the air is caught, and the air is discharged downward through an airoutlet port 514 provided in the bottom surface of the dust collectingunit 510. Provided inside the lower member 504A of the main body 504 isa guide path 515 which leads the air discharged from the air outlet port514 toward the front side. The air led through the guide path 515 towardthe front side is discharged through an air outlet filter 516 to theoutside of the cleaner 501.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 510 sectionedalong a vertical plane in the lateral direction and seen from the leftside. FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the dust collecting unit 510sectioned along a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction and seenfrom the left side. FIG. 26 is an exploded sectional view of the dustcollecting unit 510.

Referring to FIGS. 24 to 26, the dust collecting unit 510 includes asubstantially cylindrical dust collecting case 520 which defines theoutline of the dust collecting unit 510. On the upper end portion of thedust collecting case 520, provided is a gripping part 521 which isgripped when the dust collecting case 520 is attached to or detachedfrom the cleaner 501.

The dust collecting case 520 includes an upper case 520A provided withthe gripping part 521 on the upper end portion thereof and a lower case520B to be attached upward to the upper case 520A on the same centralaxis. The inside of the upper case 520A is divided into an upper chamber522 formed in the upper portion thereof and a lower chamber 523 formedin the lower portion thereof.

The lower case 520B is a substantially cylindrical member and providedwith an inlet port 512 in the upper end portion thereof. The air takenin through the inlet port 512 flows in along a tangential line of theouter circumferential surface of the lower case 520B and swirls at ahigh speed in the lower case 520B. In the upper surface of the lowercase 520B, a recess 551 of a substantially circular shape in a plan viewis provided and an opening 552 is defined in the central portion of thebottom surface of this recess 551. In the lower case 520B, a cylindricalmember 528 is extended in the vertical direction along the central axisthereof. The cylindrical member 528 penetrates the opening 552 to extendto the upper portion, and a flange part 528A is stretched in thediametrical direction at the upper end of the cylindrical member 528.

In the upper portion of the peripheral portion of the opening 552,provided is a cylindrical filter 525 in a substantially cylindricalshape. This cylindrical filter 525 has such a structure that a pluralityof small holes (circular holes, slits or the like) are provided in theouter circumferential surface of a substantially cylindrical member. Thecylindrical filter 525 is held between the peripheral portion of theopening 552 and the peripheral portion of the flange part 528A of thecylindrical member 528. A helically protruded rib 528B is provided onthe outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member 528.

The air taken through the inlet port 512 into the lower case 520B swirlsat a high speed in the lower case 520B and then rises up to pass thecylindrical filter 525. At this time, rather large dust (larger dust) ofdust contained in the air taken in through the inlet port 512 is caughtby the cylindrical filter 525 to be stored in the lower case 520B.

In the lower chamber 523 of the upper case 520A, a cylindrical filter531 in a substantially cylindrical shape is provided along the centralaxis thereof. The cylindrical filter 531 includes, for example, aresin-formed main body 531A, and a helically protruded rib 531B isprovided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 531A. Inthe lower portion of the main body 531A, the portion other than the rib531B is opened and this opening is covered with a mesh filter 531C. In astate that the upper case 520A and the lower case 520B are connected toeach other, the lower end portion of the main body 531A of thecylindrical filter 531 is put into the recess 551 of the lower case520B, and the lower end surface of the main body 531A contacts theperipheral portion of the flange part 528A of the cylindrical member528. In the cylindrical filter 531, provided is a paper filter 532including a plurality of filter paper sheets disposed in substantiallycylindrical shape so as to face each other. In a state that the uppercase 520A and the lower case 520B are connected, the lower end surfaceof the paper filter 532 contacts the upper end surface of thecylindrical member 528 (the inner circumferential portion of the flangepart 528A).

The air having passed through the cylindrical filter 525 of the lowercase 520B flows into the lower chamber 523 of the upper case 520A closedby connecting the upper case 520A and the lower case 520B, passesthrough the mesh filter 531C of the cylindrical filter 531 andthereafter passes through the paper filter 532 disposed in thecylindrical filter 531. At this time, rather small dust (minute dust)contained in the air from which larger dust has been removed is caughtby the mesh filter 531C and the paper filter 532. The air from whichminute dust has been removed flows from the inside of the paper filter532 through the cylindrical member 528 in the lower case 520B to bedischarged from the lower end portion of the cylindrical member 528. Thelower end portion of the cylindrical member 528 defines an air outletport 514 for discharging the air from which dust has been removed to theoutside of the dust collecting unit 510.

The bottom surface of the lower case 520B is opened and this opening canbe opened or closed by a lid 550. An opening 550A is provided in thecentral portion of the lid 550. When the lid 550 is closed, the lowerend portion of the cylindrical member 528 is fitted into the opening550A and stretched downward. A latching part 554 for latching the rearend portion of the lid 550 is provided in the lower portion of the rearsurface of the lower case 520B. On the other hand, a latching claw 545for latching the front end portion of the lid 550 is attached to thefront end portion of the lower portion of the outer surface of the lowercase 520B. The latching claw 545 is pivotally movable in thelongitudinal direction about the upper end portion thereof. In a statethat the latching claw 545 is extended along the outer circumferentialsurface of the lower case 520B, a claw part 545A formed at the lower endof the latching claw 545 can be latched to the front end portion of thelid 550.

In the front end portion of the outer surface of the lower case 520B, anoperating lever 546 is extended from the upper end portion to the lowerend portion thereof. The operating lever 546 is operated for releasingthe engagement of the latching claw 545 with the lid 550. The lower endportion of the operating lever 546 is inserted between the outercircumferential surface of the lower case 520B and the latching claw545. The operating lever 546 is urged upward by a spring 547 provided atthe upper end potion thereof. By pushing downward the operating lever546 against the urging force of the spring 547, the latching claw 545 ispushed forward by an inclined surface 546A provided in the lower endportion of the operating lever 546 so that the engagement of thelatching claw 545 with the lid 550 can be released. In a state that thelatching claw 545 is disengaged, the lid 550 can be detached from thelower case 520B. By detaching the lid 550 from the lower case 520B, theopening in the bottom surface of the lower case 520B is opened and duststored in the lower case 520B can be taken out through the opening inthe bottom surface.

In this embodiment, the cylindrical filter 531 and the cylindricalmember 528 can be integrally rotated. By connecting the upper case 520Aand the lower case 520B, the lower end portion of the cylindrical filter531 is connected with the upper end portion of the cylindrical member528 so that the cylindrical filter 531 and the cylindrical member 528are integrated. The upper end portion of the cylindrical filter 531penetrates the division wall dividing the upper chamber 522 and thelower chamber 523 to face the upper chamber 522. With the lower surfaceof the flange part 541 provided on the outer circumferential surface ofthe upper end portion of the cylindrical filter 531 contacting the uppersurface of the division wall 540, the cylindrical filter 531 isrotatably held.

A plurality of teeth are provided on the outer peripheral edge of theupper surface of the flange part 541 provided on the upper end portionof the cylindrical filter 531. A gear 542 engageable with the teeth isprovided in the upper chamber 522 of the upper case 520A. A shaft of thegear 542 is extended in the longitudinal direction and is connected to adial 543 stretched outward from the rear end of the circumferentialsurface of the upper case 520A. When the dial 543 is rotated, the flangepart 541 is rotated via the gear 542, and the cylindrical filer 531 andthe cylindrical member 528 connected thereto are rotated. With such anarrangement, even if dust is accumulated in the lower case 520B and dustclings to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member528, dust can be separated from the outer circumferential surface of thecylindrical member 528 by means of the helical rib 528B provided on theouter circumferential surface of the rotating cylindrical member 528.Therefore, by opening the lid 550 thereafter, dust in the lower case520B can be easily taken out.

In this embodiment, since larger dust contained in the air taken inthrough the inlet port 512 can be caught by the cylindrical filter 525and stored in the lower case 520B, larger dust can be prevented fromflowing into the upper case 520A. Therefore, dust attached to thecylindrical filter 531 and the paper filter 532 disposed in the uppercase 520A (lower chamber 523) is small in amount. As a result, it is notnecessary to frequently remove dust (minute dust) attached to thesefilters, and the dust collecting unit 510 can be easily maintained.

FIG. 27 is a sectional view showing the structure of a cleaner accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 is a sectionalview of the cleaner of FIG. 27 seen along the section line H-H.

The cleaner 601 is an upright type (longitudinal type) cleaner andincludes a suction section 602 and a vertically long-shaped main body603 upwardly extended from the suction section 602. The suction section602 is attached to the lower end of the main body 603 so as to movepivotally around the same axis line with the axis line of a rotationshaft of a motor of a belowmentioned electric blower 609. Therefore,this cleaner 601 can be used in a position in which the main body 603 issomewhat inclined with respect to the suction section 602. On the otherhand, when unused, this cleaner 601 can be maintained in a position inwhich the main body 603 is upright in the vertical direction withrespect to the suction section 602.

In this description, in the cleaner 601, the side toward which the mainbody 603 is inclined is regarded as the rear side and the side opposedto that rear side is regarded as the front side.

In the bottom surface of the front end portion of the suction section602, a suction port 604 for sucking dust together with air is formed soas to be elongated in the lateral direction orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction (in the direction perpendicular to the papersurface of FIG. 27). Further, in the front end portion of the suctionsection 602, provided is a rotary brush disposing portion 605 incommunication with the suction port 604. In the rotary brush disposingportion 605, a rotary brush 606 is disposed so as to be rotatable arounda rotation axis line extended in the lateral direction. To the rotarybrush 606, a driving force is transmitted from a motor of thebelowmentioned electric blower 609. When the motor of the electricblower 609 is driven, the driving force thereof is transmitted to therotary brush 606 so that the rotary brush 606 rotates. With the rotationof this rotary brush 606, dust and the like on a surface to be cleanedsuch as a carpet surface are scraped up. And the scraped dust and thelike are sucked into the suction port 604 by a suction force of theelectric blower 609.

A motor to be used for rotating the rotary brush 606 may be providedseparately from the motor of the electric blower 609.

Further, in the suction section 602, formed is a hose connecting portion607 in a tubular shape rearwardly extended from the rotary brushdisposing portion 605. The inside of the hose connecting portion 607 iscommunicated with the rotary brush disposing portion 605.

In the rear end portion of the suction section 602, wheels 608 areprovided so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis line extended inthe lateral direction. With the wheels 608 rolling on a floor surface,the cleaner 601 can be smoothly movable in the longitudinal direction.

In the lower end portion of the main body 603, provided is the electricblower 609 having a motor and a fan to be driven by the motor. Theelectric blower 609 is disposed in such a manner that the rotation shaftof the motor is in line with the lateral direction.

If the driving force of the motor of the electric blower 609 is not usedfor rotating the rotary brush 606, the electric blower 609 may bedisposed in such a manner that the rotation shaft of the motor is inline with the longitudinal or vertical direction.

In the lower portion of the front surface of the main body 603 and atthe same time in the portion oblique and upper front of the electricblower 609, an air outlet port 610 is provided for discharging air fromthe electric blower 609. Further, in the lower portion of the main body603, an outlet air guide path 611 is formed for guiding air from theelectronic blower 609 into the air outlet port 610. An air outlet portfilter 612 for cleaning air from the electric blower 609 is removablyprovided in the portion of the outlet air guide path 611 adjacent to theair outlet port 610. As the air outlet port filter 612, a HEPA filter isused, for example. The air outlet port filter 612 has the second largestsurface area next to a belowmentioned main filter 622 among all of thefilters attached to this cleaner 601.

In the main body 603, a part above the outlet air guide path 611constitutes a dust collecting case fitting section 613. In this dustcollecting case fitting section 613, a dust collecting case 614 isremovably fitted.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view of the dust collecting case 614.

The dust collecting case 614 comprises a case body 615, a filtersupporting member 616 removably attached to the back surface (rearsurface) of the case body 615, and an opening and closing member 617attached to the bottom surface of the case body 615 so as to be openedand closed.

The case body 615 is formed in a substantially rectangularparallelepiped shape large in the vertical direction and small inthickness in the longitudinal direction, and the back surface and thebottom surface thereof are opened. In the upper portion of the case body615, a division plate 618 is provided which is in a form of a thin plateextended in the longitudinal and lateral directions. A space below thedivision plate 618 inside the case body 615 constitutes a dustcollecting chamber 619 for collecting dust sucked through the suctionport 604. The sectional area of the dust collecting chamber 619sectioned in the longitudinal direction becomes larger toward the lowerportion thereof.

Further, in the lower end portion of the case body 615, provided is arearwardly projected stop portion 620 onto which the lower end portionof a belowmentioned main filter supporting member 623 is latched. Thestop portion 620 is formed in a rectangular shape long in the lateraldirection in plan view and the upper surface thereof is widely opened.

Further, in the upper end portion of the case body 615, provided is aclaw 621 to be latched onto the upper end portion of a belowmentionedopposed wall 639 of the dust collecting case fitting section 613 of themain body 603. Further, in the front portion of the bottom surface ofthe dust collecting case fitting section 613, an upwardly projectedengagement wall portion 649 is formed. The dust collecting case 614 isfitted in the dust collecting case fitting section 613 in the followingmanner. First, the lower portion of the front surface of the case body615 is engaged with the engagement wall portion 649. In this engagedstate, the case body 615 pivotally moves in the rearward direction withthe engaged portion being as a fulcrum and then the claw 621 is latchedonto the upper end portion of the opposed wall 639. Thereby, the dustcollecting case 614 is mounted onto the main body 603 with the upperportion and the lower portion of the case body 615 being latched ontothe dust collecting case fitting section 613.

Further, though not shown, on the front surface of the case body 615,provided is a handle to be grasped when fitting or detaching the dustcollecting case 614 in or from the dust collecting case fitting section613 of the main body 603.

The filter supporting member 616 includes a main filter supportingmember 623 for supporting the main filter 622 and a prefilter supportingmember 625 for supporting a prefilter 624.

The filter supporting member 616, the main filter 622 supported therebyand the like are disposed outside the dust collecting chamber 619 of thecase body 615. Since the main filter 622 and the like are disposed so asnot to intrude into the dust collecting chamber 619, the shape of theinside of the dust collecting chamber 619 can be simplified (that is,the rear surface of the inside of the dust collecting chamber 619 can bemade a flat surface). As a result, dust trapped by the inner surface ofthe dust collecting chamber 619 can be reduced and dust inside the dustcollecting chamber 619 is smoothly discharged when the belowmentionedopening and closing member 617 is opened.

The main filter 622 is formed by alternately folding back an unwovencloth in the longitudinal direction, and it is a pleat-shaped unwovenfilter in which a number of vertically elongated folded-back portions638 are arranged in the lateral direction. The main filter 622 has thelargest surface area among the filters attached to the cleaner 601.

The upper edge of the main filter supporting member 623 is latched ontothe rear end portion of the division plate 618 of the case body 615, andthe lower end portion of the main filter supporting member 623 islatched onto the stop portion 620 of the case body 615, so that the mainfilter supporting member 623 is removably attached to the case body 615.By attaching the main filter supporting member 623 to the case body 615,the rear surface of the dust collecting chamber 619 in the case body 615is closed. Packing is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the mainfilter supporting member 623, though not shown. When the main filtersupporting member 623 is mounted on the case body 615, the clearancebetween the case body 615 and the main filter supporting member 623 isairtightly sealed.

In the upper end portion of the main filter supporting member 623, aninlet port 626 is formed which is substantially circular when seen inthe rear surface. And a substantially circular-tube-shaped inlet portconnecting portion 627 rearwardly extended from the periphery of theinlet port 626 and a guide portion 628 forwardly (into the dustcollecting chamber 619) extended from the periphery of the inlet port626 are formed integrally with the main filter supporting member 623.The guide portion 628 has such a shape that substantially a half of ahalf-sphere shaped head end portion of a circular supporting member 623is cut off, and the head end portion thereof is opened off to the lowerfront.

Further, in the main filter supporting member 623, a case side outletport 629 substantially rectangular when seen in the rear surface isformed below the inlet port 626. The case side outlet port 629 has alarger area than the area of the bottom surface (opening) portion of thecase body 615 facing to the dust collecting chamber 619. And aperipheral wall portion 630 rearwardly projected from the periphery ofthe case side outlet port 629 is formed integrally with the main filtersupporting member 623. The main filter 622 is disposed in a portionenclosed by the peripheral wall portion 630.

The prefilter 624 is formed of a resin material and integrally comprisesa mesh-shaped filter portion and a lattice-shaped reinforcing portionfor reinforcing the filter portion. The lattice-shaped reinforcingportion projects forwardly (on the side of the dust collecting chamber619) from the filter portion in a smaller amount than the amount thatprojects rearwardly (on the side of the main filter 622) therefrom.Thereby, the surface of the filter portion facing to the dust collectingchamber 619 and the surface of the reinforcing portion facing to thedust collecting chamber 619 are disposed substantially in the sameplane, so that the amount of dust trapped by the prefilter 624 when dustis discharged from the dust collecting chamber 619 can be more reduced.Further, the prefilter 624 has substantially the same size as the mainfilter 622 when seen in the rear surface, and the prefilter 624 has asurface area next to the air outlet filter 612 among the filtersattached to this cleaner 601.

The prefilter supporting member 625 is formed in a shape of a frame forsupporting the periphery of the prefilter 624. The upper edge of theprefilter supporting member 625 is latched onto the upper edge of thecase side outlet port 629 of the main filter supporting member 623, andthe lower edge of the prefilter supporting member 625 is latched to thelower edge of the case side outlet port 629. Thereby, the prefiltersupporting member 625 is removably attached to the main filtersupporting member 623. By attaching the prefilter supporting member 625to the main filter supporting member 623, the case side outlet port 629of the main filter supporting member 623 is closed in a communicatedstate through the prefilter 624. When the prefilter supporting member625 is attached to the main filter supporting member 623, the prefiltersupporting member 625, the prefilter 624 and the surface of the mainfilter supporting member 623 facing to the dust collecting chamber 619are disposed substantially in the same plane and no large gap in levelis formed therebetween. As a result, dust inside the dust collectingchamber 619 can be secured to discharge more smoothly.

Further, an additional filter such as tissue paper sheets can bedisposed on the front surface of the prefilter 624. By disposing tissuepaper sheets or the like, clogging of the prefilter 624 and the mainfilter 622 can be prevented.

The rear end portion of the opening and closing member 617 is pivotallysupported by an opening and closing shaft 631 laterally extended behindthe stop portion 620 of the case body 615. In the front end portion ofthe opening and closing member 617, formed is a recess 633 engageablewith an engagement portion 632 provided in the front lower end portionof the case body 615. In the state that the recess 633 of the openingand closing member 617 is engaged with the engagement portion 632, theopening and closing member 617 closes the bottom surface of the casebody 615. And by releasing the engagement between the engagement portion632 and the recess 633 and downwardly pivoting the opening and closingmember 617 around the opening and closing shaft 631 as a fulcrum, thebottom surface of the case body 615 can be opened.

Further, this dust collecting case 614 is provided with a dust remover634 for removing dust caught by the main filter 622 from the main filter622. As shown in FIG. 28, the dust remover 634 comprises a laterallyelongated rail 635 stretched between two side walls of the peripheralwall portion 630 of the main filter supporting member 623, and a slidingmember 636 slidable along the rail 635. In the sliding member 636,formed is a forwardly projected touching portion 637 which touches thefolded-back portions of the main filter 622. By sliding the slidingmember 636 along the rail 635, the touching portion 637 touches thefolded-back portions of the main filter 622 one by one, so that thefolded-back portions 638 of the main filter 622 is snapped by thetouching portion 637. Due to the vibrations at this time, dust attachedto the main filter 622 drops therefrom through the upper surface openingof the stop portion 620 of the case body 615 down onto the opening andclosing member 617.

Referring to FIGS. 27, 28 again, the dust collecting case fittingsection 613 has an opposed wall 639, which is opposed to the rearsurface of the dust collecting case 614 when the dust collecting case614 is fitted in the dust collecting case fitting section 613. Further,on both sides in the lateral direction of the dust collecting casefitting section 613, provided are cover portions 648 extended in thevertical and longitudinal directions. Each of these cover portions 648covers a part of each of both side surfaces in the lateral direction ofthe dust collecting case 614 fitted in the dust collecting case fittingsection 613. In the dust collecting case 614, the main filter 622 andthe like are disposed outside (behind) the case body 615. However, inthe state that the dust collecting case 614 is fitted in the dustcollecting case fitting section 613, the main filter 622 and the likedisposed outside the case body 615 are covered with the case body 615and the cover portions 648 so that the main filter 622 and the like arenot seen from outside. As a result, the appearance of this cleaner 601is not spoiled.

In the opposed wall 639, formed is a suction air connecting port 640 towhich the inlet port connecting port 627 of the dust collecting case 614is connected. Further, the opposed wall 639 is provided with a divisionwall portion 641 opposed to the peripheral wall portion 630 of the mainfilter supporting member 623 throughout the whole periphery thereof whenthe dust collecting case 614 is fitted. This division wall portion 641defines a space between the main filter 622 and the opposed wall 639. Apacking 650 is provided throughout the whole periphery of the divisionwall portion 641. In the state that the dust collecting case 614 isfitted in the dust collecting case fitting section 613, the packing 650is in contact with the peripheral wall portion 630 of the main filtersupporting member 623, so that a space between the main filtersupporting member 623 and the division wall portion 641 is keptairtight. Further, a main body side outlet port 642 is provided in theregion enclosed by the division wall portion 641 of the opposed wall639.

Further, behind the opposed wall 639 of the dust collecting case fittingsection 613 of the main body 603, provided is a suction air guide path643 for guiding air (including dust) sucked through the suction port 604of the suction section 602 to the suction air connecting port 640. Thissuction air guide path 643 is connected at its upper end to the suctionair connecting port 640, rearwardly extends a little and is bend down inthe midway to extend downwardly. To the lower end of the suction airguide path 643, one end of a suction air hose 644 is connected. Theother end of this suction air hose 644 is connected to the hoseconnecting portion 607 of the suction section 602.

Further, behind the opposed wall 639 of the dust collecting case fittingsection 613, provided is an outlet path 645 for guiding air dischargedfrom the main body side outlet port 642 to the electric blower 609.

Further, as shown in FIG. 28, in the main body side outlet port 642, afilter 646 for securely preventing extraneous substances contained inair discharged through the main body side outlet port 642 from flowinginto the electric blower 609 and a lattice (not shown) are disposed inthis order in the direction of the air stream. The filter 646 has thesmallest surface area among all of the filters attached to this cleaner601.

Further, the main body 603 is provided with a handle 647 extended fromthe upper end thereof. A user, with grasping this handle 647, can movethe cleaner 601 forwardly by pushing the main body 603 through thehandle 647, and rearwardly by pulling the main body 603 through thehandle 647.

With the abovementioned structure, when the electric blower 609 isdriven with the suction port 604 of the suction section 602 beingopposed to a floor surface, dust on the floor surface together with airis sucked into the suction port 604 of the suction section 602. As shownwith outline arrows in FIG. 27, air and dust sucked into the suctionport 604 passes the hose connecting portion 607, the suction air hose644, the suction air guide path 643, the suction air connecting port640, the inlet port connecting portion 627, the inlet port 626 and theguide portion 628 in this order, thus to be introduced into the dustcollecting chamber 619 of the dust collecting case 614. Air introducedinto the dust collecting chamber 619 passes the case side outlet port629, the prefilter 624, the main filter 622 and the filter 646 in thisorder and dust is caught through this process. Clean air having passedthe filter 646 passes the main body side outlet port 642 and the outletpath 645 in this order, is sucked into the electric blower 609, and thenpasses the outlet air guide path 611 and the air outlet port filter 612in this order, to be discharged through the air outlet port 610 to theoutside of the cleaner 601.

In the dust collecting chamber 619, as shown with outline arrows in FIG.29, formed is an air stream flowing from the guide portion 628 disposedin the relatively upper portion to the case side outlet port 629provided in the relatively lower portion. Since dust contained in thisair stream is heavier than air, the amount (density) of dust in the airstream is larger in the air stream passing the relatively lower portionof the dust collecting chamber 619. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 30, inthe dust collecting chamber 619, dust begins to be accumulated in aportion on the opening and closing member 617 near the prefilter 624first. Then, while the accumulated dust being compressed by the airdischarged from the dust collecting chamber 619 through the prefilter624, and new dust is further accumulated and piled up on the compresseddust. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 31, by opening the opening and closingmember 617 and thereby opening the bottom surface of the case body 615,dust accumulated on the opening and closing member 617 can be dischargedat one operation. Further, since the dust collecting chamber 619 isformed to become larger in the lower portion thereof, dust accumulatedon the opening and closing member 617 can be more smoothly discharged atone operation. Furthermore, when the opening and closing member 617 isopened, dust dropped from the main filter 622 down onto the opening andclosing member 617 by the dust remover 634 can be discharged at the sametime.

The inlet port 626 for introducing air and dust sucked through thesuction port 604 of the suction section 602 into the dust collectingchamber 619 may be provided in the upper surface of the dust collectingchamber 619 (in the division plate 618 of the case body 615).

Further, the case side outlet port 629 may be provided in the sidesurface of the dust collecting chamber 619 with such a structure thatone side surface of the dust collecting chamber 619 in the lateraldirection is opened and the main filter supporting member 623 isattaches so as to close the opened side surface.

Even if the inlet port 626 is provided in the upper surface of the dustcollecting chamber 619 and the case side outlet port 629 is provided inthe side surface of the dust collecting chamber 619, dust begins to beaccumulated in a portion on the opening and closing member 617 near theprefilter 624 first in the dust collecting chamber 619. Therefore, thesame advantages with those of the structure of the abovementioned thirdembodiment can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the abovementioned embodimentsbut may be variously changed within the range of the appended claims.

For example, in the first embodiment, the guide member 24, 124, 224, 324or 424 is not limited to one having a shape bent (or curved) atsubstantially 90 degrees, but may have a shape extended on a straightline.

The filter member 30, 130, 240, 330 or 430 is not limited to one havinga two-layer structure including a mesh filter 31, 131, 231, 331 or 431and a paper filter 32, 132, 232, 332 or 432, but may be one having aone-layer structure comprising either of a mesh filter or a paperfilter, or may be one having a more-than-three-layer structure combiningthese filters with other filters.

The filter member 30, 130, 230, 330 or 430 is not limited to a meshfilter 31, 131, 231, 331 or 431 and a paper filter 32, 132, 232, 332 or432, but may comprises other filters.

The air port 26, 126, 226, 326 or 426 of the cylindrical filter 25, 125,225, 325 or 425 is not covered limitedly with the mesh filter 27, 127,227, 327 or 427, but may be covered with another filter or may not becovered with any filter.

In the second embodiment, the cylindrical filter 525 provided in thelower case 520B is not limited to one comprising a substantiallycylindrical member provided with a plurality of small holes in the outercircumferential surface thereof, but maybe one including a mesh filter.

The filter provided in the upper case 520A is not limited to one havinga two-layer structure including a mesh filter 531C and a paper filter532, but may be one having a one-layer structure comprising either of amesh filter or a paper filter, or may be one having amore-than-three-layer structure combining these filters with otherfilters.

The filter provided in the upper case 520A is not limited to the meshfilter 531C or the paper filter 532, but may comprise another filter.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

The disclosure of Japanese patent application Serial No. 2004-134094,filed on Apr. 28, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.

1. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner for catching dust suckedtherein with air and passing sucked air therethrough, including an inletport through which air and dust is taken in, a dust catch room intowhich the air and dust taken in through the inlet port is led, an airflow path for separating a part of air taken in through the inlet portand ensuring air flow, an air outlet port through which the air havingpassed through the dust catch room and the air flow path is discharged,and a filter provided on the upstream side of the air outlet port forpreventing dust from flowing to the air outlet port from the dust catchroom and the air flow path.
 2. A dust collecting unit for use in acleaner according to claim 1, in which a dust removing filter forpreventing dust from flowing into the air flow path is provided in theair flow path.
 3. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner accordingto claim 1, in which a main flow path for leading the air and dust takeninto the dust catch room is communicated with the inlet port, and themain flow path leads the air and dust to flow from the upper portion tothe lower portion of the dust catch room.
 4. A dust collecting unit foruse in a cleaner according to claim 3, in which the main flow path hasan inlet port opened substantially in parallel with the direction of theair flow in the main flow path, and the inlet port is provided with adust removing filter.
 5. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaneraccording to claim 4, in which the filter and the air outlet port areprovided in the lower portion of the dust catch room.
 6. A dustcollecting unit for use in a cleaner according to claim 5, in which theair flow path is extended from the upper portion to the lower portionadjacently to the dust catch room.
 7. A dust collecting unit for use ina cleaner according to claim 5, in which the air flow path is extendedfrom the upper portion to the lower portion in the dust catch room.
 8. Adust collecting unit for use in a cleaner according to claim 5, in whichthe air flow path is provided with an outlet port facing the filter, andthe outlet port faces a portion of the filter different from the portionthrough which the air having passed through the dust catch room passes.9. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner according to claim 4, inwhich the filter and the air outlet port are disposed on the side of thedust catch room.
 10. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaneraccording to claim 9, in which the air flow path has an outlet portfacing an upper portion of the filter provided on the side of the dustcatch room.
 11. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner according toclaim 1, in which a filter cleaning mechanism is provided which slidablycontacts the surface of the filter and removes dust attached to thesurface of the filter.
 12. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaneraccording to claim 11, in which the filter includes a prefilter facingthe dust catch room for catching relatively large dust, and a mainfilter provided on the downstream side of the prefilter for catchingrelatively small dust, and the filter cleaning mechanism eliminatesclogging of the prefilter.
 13. A dust collecting unit for use in acleaner according to claim 11, in which the filter includes a prefilterfacing the dust catch room for catching relatively large dust, and amain filter provided on the downstream side of the prefilter forcatching relatively small dust, and the filter cleaning mechanismeliminates clogging of the main filter.
 14. A dust collecting unit foruse in a cleaner according to claim 1, in which the filter can be openedto the dust catch room and the air flow path.
 15. A dust collecting unitfor use in a cleaner according to claim 14, in which the dust collectingunit is detachably unitized with the cleaner.
 16. A dust collecting unitdetachably unitized with a cleaner, including a longitudinally elongateddust catch room, an inlet opening provided in the upper portion of thedust catch room through which the air and dust sucked in through asuction port of the cleaner flows in, a main flow path which iscommunicated with the inlet port and leads the air and dust taken infrom the upper portion to the lower portion in the dust catch room, aninlet port provided in the main flow path to be opened substantially inparallel with the direction of the air flow in the main flow path, andhaving a dust removing filter, a division wall dividing the dust catchroom into a main chamber for storing the air and dust taken in throughthe main flow path and an air flow path for leading the air flowing inthrough the inlet port, and a filter attached to the lower portion ofthe dust catch room so that it can be opened, the filter in the closedstate catching dust flowing downward from the main chamber and the airflow path, and passing the air.
 17. A dust collecting unit for use in acleaner which catches dust sucked in with air through an inlet port andpasses the air through the air outlet port, including a first dust catchroom detachably attached to the dust collecting unit, which allows theair sucked through the inlet port to pass through a larger dust filterand discharge the air, and stores relatively large dust caught by thelarger dust filter, and a second dust catch room defined by attachingthe first catch room to the dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner,which allows the air discharged from the first dust catch room to passthrough a minute dust filter provided therein and lead the air to theair outlet port side, and thereby stores relatively small dust caught bythe minute dust filter therein.
 18. A dust collecting unit for use in acleaner according to claim 17, in which a guide flow path for leadingthe air having passed the minute dust filter in the second dust catchroom to the air outlet side is provided in the first dust catch room.19. A dust collecting unit for use in a cleaner according to claim 18,in which the guide flow path is formed of a cylindrical member on thecircumferential surface of which a rib is protruded, and an operatingsection for rotating the cylindrical member is provided.
 20. A dustcollecting unit for use in a cleaner according to claim 19, in which theguide flow path is formed of a substantially cylindrical member, and theair sucked in through the inlet port flows along the direction of atangential line of the first dust catch room into the first dust catchroom.
 21. An upright type cleaner including a suction section and a mainbody pivotally attached to the suction section, further including a dustcollecting unit provided in the main body, which catches dust sucked inwith air through the suction section and passes the air, the dustcollecting unit including an inlet port through which the air and dustflows in, a dust catch room into which the air and dust flowing throughthe inlet port is led, an air flow path provided for separating a partof the air flowing through the inlet port, and ensuring air flow, an airoutlet port for discharging the air having passed through the dust catchroom and the air flow path, and a filter provided on the upstream sideof the air outlet port for preventing dust from flowing from the dustcatch room and the air flow path to the air outlet port.
 22. An uprighttype cleaner including a suction section for sucking dust on the floorand a main body pivotally attached to the suction section, furtherincluding a dust collecting unit detachably unitized with the main body,which catches dust sucked in with air through the suction section andpasses the air, the dust collecting unit including a longitudinallyelongated dust catch room, an inlet port provided in the upper portionof the dust catch room, through which the air and dust sucked in throughthe suction section of the cleaner flows in, a main flow pathcommunicated with the inlet port for leading the air and dust taken infrom the upper portion to the lower portion of the dust catch room, aninlet port provided in the main flow path and opened substantially inparallel with the direction of the air flow in the main flow path andprovided with a dust removing filter, a division wall dividing the dustcatch room into a main chamber for storing the air and dust taken inthrough the main flow path and an air flow path for leading the airflowing in through the inlet port, and a filter attached to the lowerportion of the dust catch room so that it can be opened, the filter inthe closed state catching dust flowing downward from the main chamberand the air flow path, and passing the air.
 23. An upright type cleanerincluding a suction section for sucking dust on the floor and a mainbody pivotally attached to the suction section, further including a dustcollecting unit provided in the main body, which catches dust sucked inwith air through the suction section and passes the air, the dustcollecting unit including a first dust catch room detachably attached tothe dust collecting unit, which allows the air sucked through the inletport to pass through a larger dust filter and discharge the air, andstores relatively large dust caught by the larger dust filter, and asecond dust catch room defined by attaching the first catch room to thedust collecting unit for use in a cleaner, which allows the airdischarged from the first catch room to pass through a minute dustfilter provided therein and lead the air to the air outlet port side,and thereby stores relatively small dust caught by the minute dustfilter therein.
 24. A dust collecting case for use in an upright typecleaner including a dust collecting chamber having an inlet port forintroducing air containing dust therethrough and an outlet port providedin a portion of the side surface lower than the inlet port, and in whichan air stream flowing from the inlet port toward the outlet port isformed inside, and a filter disposed in the outlet port for removingdust contained in air passing through the outlet port.
 25. A dustcollecting case for use in an upright type cleaner according to claim24, further including an opening and closing member for opening andclosing the bottom surface of the dust collecting chamber.
 26. A dustcollecting case for use in an upright type cleaner according to claim25, further including a dust remover for dropping dust caught by thefilter down onto the opening and closing member.
 27. An upright typecleaner including a dust collecting chamber having an inlet port forintroducing air containing dust therethrough and an outlet port providedin a portion of the side surface lower than the inlet port, a filterdisposed in the outlet port for removing dust contained in air passingthrough the outlet port, and an electric blower for generating an airstream flowing from the inlet port toward the outlet port in the dustcollecting chamber, in which thereby an air stream is generated to causedust to be accumulated and piled up from the lower side of the filter inthe dust collecting chamber when the electric blower is driven.
 28. Acleaner according to claim 27, further including an opening and closingmember for opening and closing the bottom surface of the dust collectingchamber.